The Lutheran Hymnary ‎#272

272. If God Himself be for me

1 If God Himself be for me,
I may a host defy,
For when I pray, before me
My foes confounded fly:
If Christ, the Head, befriend me,
If God be my support,
The mischief they intend me
Shall quickly come to naught.

2 This I believe--yea, rather,
In this I make my boast,
That God is my dear Father,
The griend who loves me most;
And that, whate'er betide me,
My Savior is at hand,
Through stormy seas to guide me
And bring me safe to land.

3 I build on this foundation,--
That Jesus and His blood
Alone are my salvation,
The true, eternal good:
Without Him, all that pleases
Is valueless on earth;
The gifts I owe to Jesus
Alone my love are worth.

4 His Holy Spirit dwelleth
Within my willing heart,
Tames it when it rebelleth,
And soothes the keenest smart:
He crowns His work with blessing,
And helpeth me to cry,
"My Father!" without ceasing,
To Him who dwells on high.

5 And when my soul is lying
Weak, trembling, and oppressed,
He pleads with groans and sighing
That cannot be expressed;
But God's quick eye discerns them
Although they give no sound,
And into language turns them,
E'en in the heart's deep ground.

6 To mine His Spirit speaketh
Sweet words of soothing power,
How God to him that seeketh
For rest, hath rest in store:
There God Himself prepareth
My heritage and lot,
And though my body weareth,
My heaven shall fail me not.

7 Who clings with resolution
To Him whom Satan hates,
Must look for persecution
Which never here abates;
Reproaches, griefs and losses
Rain fast upon his head,
A thousand plagues and crosses
Become his daily bread.

8 All this I am prepared for,
Yet am I not afraid;
By Thee shall all be cared for,
To whom my vows were paid:
Though life and limb it cost me,
And all the earthly store
Which once so much engrossed me,--
I love Thee all the more.

9 Not fire, nor sword, nor thunder,
Shall sever me from Thee;
Though earth be rent asunder,
Thou'rt mine eternally:
Not hunger, thirst, nor danger,
Not pain, or pinching want,
Nor mighty princes' anger,
My fearless soul shall daunt.

10 No angel, and no gladness,
No throne, no pomp, nor show,
No love, no hate, no sadness,
No pain, no depth of woe,
No scheme of man's contrivance,
Though it be great or small,
Shall draw me from Thy guidance,
Not one of these, nor all!

11 My merry heart is springing,
And knows not how to pine;
'Tis full of joy and singing,
And radiancy divine;
The sun whose smiles so cheers me
Is Jesus Christ alone;
To have Him always near me
Is heaven itself begun.

Text Information

• First Line: If God Himself be for me
• Author: P. Gerhardt (1656)
• Meter: 7, 6. 8L.
• Publication Date: 1913
• Topic: The Church Year: First Sunday in Lent; The Church Year: Second Sunday in Lent; Trust in God

Tune Information

• Name: [If God Himself be for me]
• Meter: 7, 6. 8L.
• Key: A Major
• Source: Zinck's Koralbog, 1801