When Afflictions Sore Oppress You

Representative Text

1 When afflictions sore oppress you,
Low with grief and anguish bowed,
Then to earnest prayer address you;
Prayer will help you, through the cloud,
Still to see your Savior near,
Under ev'ry cross you bear;
By the light His Word doth lend you,
Prayer will joy and comfort send you.

2 None shall ever be confounded,
Who in God will freely trust;
Though they be by woes surrounded,
God's a Rock to all the just.
Though you deem He hears you not,
Still your wants are ne'er forgot;
Cry to Him when storms assail you,
Let your courage never fail you.

3 Call on God, knock, seek, implore Him,
'Tis the Christian's noblest skill;
He who comes with faith before Him
Meets with help and favor still:
Who on God most firmly rest
Are the wisest and the best;
God will with such strength inbue them,
Ne'er shall any foe subdue them.

4 Learn to mark God's wondrous dealing
With the people that He loves;
When His chast'ning hand they're feeling,
Then their faith the strongest proves.
God is nigh, and notes their tears,
Though He answers not, He hears;
Pray with faith, for though He try you,
No good thing can God deny you.

5 Ponder all God's truth can teach you,
Let His word your footsteps guide;
Satan's wiles shall never reach you,
Though he draw the world aside.
Lo! God's truth is thy defense,
Light, and hope, and confidence:
Trust in God, He'll not deceive you,
Pray, and all your foes will leave you.

Source: Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary #256

Author: Johannes G. Olearius

Johannes Olearius (b. Halle, Germany, 1611; d. Weissenfels, Germany, 1684) Born into a family of Lutheran theologians, Olearius received his education at the University of Wittenberg and later taught theology there. He was ordained a Lutheran pastor and appointed court preacher to Duke August of Sachsen-Weissenfels in Halle and later to Duke Johann Adolph in Weissenfels. Olearius wrote a commentary on the entire Bible, published various devotional books, and produced a translation of the Imitatio Christi by Thomas a Kempis. In the history of church music Olearius is mainly remembered for his hymn collection, which was widely used in Lutheran churches. Bert Polman… Go to person page >

Translator: Frances Elizabeth Cox

Cox, Frances Elizabeth, daughter of Mr. George V. Cox, born at Oxford, is well known as a successful translator of hymns from the German. Her translations were published as Sacred Hymns from the German, London, Pickering. The 1st edition, pub. 1841, contained 49 translations printed with the original text, together with biographical notes on the German authors. In the 2nd edition, 1864, Hymns from the German, London, Rivingtons, the translations were increased to 56, those of 1841 being revised, and with additional notes. The 56 translations were composed of 27 from the 1st ed. (22 being omitted) and 29 which were new. The best known of her translations are "Jesus lives! no longer [thy terrors] now" ; and ”Who are these like stars appeari… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: When afflictions sore oppress you
Title: When Afflictions Sore Oppress You
German Title: Wenn dich Unglück hat betreten
Author: Johannes G. Olearius
Translator: Frances Elizabeth Cox
Meter: 8.7.8.7.7.7.8.8
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Tune

GENEVAN 42

Louis Bourgeois (PHH 3) composed or adapted this tune for Psalm 42 for the Genevan psalter. The 1564 harmonization by Claude Goudimel (PHH 6) originally placed the melody in the tenor. An alternate harmonization with descants by Johann Crüger (PHH 42) can be found opposite 41 in the Psalter Hymnal.…

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Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary #256

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