When in the Hour of Utmost Need

Representative Text

1 When in the hour of utmost need
we know not where to look for aid,
when days and nights of anxious thought
no help or counsel yet have brought.

2 Then is our comfort this alone
that we may meet before your throne;
to you, O faithful God, we cry
for rescue from our misery.

3 For you have promised, Lord, to heed
your children's cries in time of need
through him whose name alone is great,
our Savior and our advocate.

4 And so we come, O God, today
and all our woes before you lay;
be with us in our anguish still,
free us at last from ev'ry ill.

5 So that with all our hearts we may
to you our glad thanksgiving pay,
then walk obedient to your Word
and now and ever praise you, Lord.

Source: Christian Worship: Hymnal #723

Author: Paul Eber

Eber, Paul, son of Johannes Eber, master tailor at Kitzingen, Bavaria, was born at Kitzingen, Nov. 8, 1511. He was sent in 1523 to the Gymnasium at Ansbach, but being forced by illness to return home, was on his way thrown from horseback and dragged more than a mile, remaining as a consequence deformed ever after. In 1525 he entered the St. Lorentz school at Nürnberg, under Joachim Camerarius, and in 1532 went to the University of Wittenberg, where he graduated 1536, and thereafter became tutor in the Philosophical Faculty. He was appointed Professor of Latin in 1544, then in 1557 Professor of Hebrew and Castle preacher, and in 1558 Town preacher and General Superintendent of the Electorate, receiving in 1559 the degree D.D. from the Unive… Go to person page >

Translator: Catherine Winkworth

Catherine Winkworth (b. Holborn, London, England, 1827; d. Monnetier, Savoy, France, 1878) is well known for her English translations of German hymns; her translations were polished and yet remained close to the original. Educated initially by her mother, she lived with relatives in Dresden, Germany, in 1845, where she acquired her knowledge of German and interest in German hymnody. After residing near Manchester until 1862, she moved to Clifton, near Bristol. A pioneer in promoting women's rights, Winkworth put much of her energy into the encouragement of higher education for women. She translated a large number of German hymn texts from hymnals owned by a friend, Baron Bunsen. Though often altered, these translations continue to be used i… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: When in the hour of utmost need
Title: When in the Hour of Utmost Need
German Title: Wenn wir in höchsten Nöten sein
Author: Paul Eber (1567)
Translator: Catherine Winkworth (1858)
Meter: 8.8.8.8
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Tune

LES COMANDEMENS DE DIEU

LES COMMANDEMENS (French for "the commandments"), a rich and graceful tune in the Hypo-Ionian mode (major), was used in the Genevan Psalter (1547) for the Decalogue and for Psalm 140, and later in British psalters and in the Lutheran tradition. The first setting in the Psalter Hymnal derives from Cl…

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Timeline

Media

The Cyber Hymnal #7530
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  • Noteworthy Composer score (NWC)
  • XML score (XML)

Instances

Instances (1 - 64 of 64)
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A Church Hymn Book #240

A Church of England Hymn Book #562

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American Lutheran Hymnal #276

Book of Common Praise #d640

Book of Hymns for the Evangelical Lutheran Joint Synod of Wisconsin and Other States #d283

Book of Hymns for the joint Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan and other states #d284

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Chorale Book for England, The #141

Chorals and Hymns, Ancient and Modern, Chiefly from the German #d43

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Christian Hymns #16

Text

Christian Worship (1993) #413

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Christian Worship #723

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Church Book #496

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Church Book #496

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Common Service Book of the Lutheran Church #498

Evangelical Lutheran Hymn Book with Tunes #d511

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Evangelical Lutheran Hymn-book #364

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Evangelical Lutheran Hymn-book #515

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Evangelical Lutheran Hymnal #151

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Evangelical Lutheran hymnal #151

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Evangelical Lutheran Hymnal. 9th ed. #a151

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Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary #257

Evangelical Lutheran Hymnbook (Lutheran Conference of Missouri and Other States) #d369

Hymn Book for the use of Evangelical Lutheran Schools and Congregations #d121

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Hymn Book #102

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Hymnal Companion to the Prayer Book with Accompanying Tunes (Second Edition) #302

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Hymnal Companion to the Prayer Book #302

Hymnal for Colleges and Schools #220

Hymnal for Colleges and Schools. 3rd ed. #d333

Hymnal of the Evangelical Church. Word ed. #d852

Hymnal #131

Hymns Ancient and Modern #233

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Hymns for the use of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, by the Authority of the Ministerium of Pennsylvania #533

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Hymns for the Worship of God #181

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Lutheran Book of Worship #303

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Lutheran Service Book #615

Text

Lutheran Worship #428

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Lyra Germanica #S2-98

The Book of Common Praise #d661

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The Book of Worship #480

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The Christian Hymnal, Hymns with Tunes for the Services of the Church #195

The Christian Hymnary. Bks. 1-4 #610

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The Church and Sunday-School Hymnal #276

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The Church Hymnal #382

The Churchman's Hymn-Book, a Collection of Hymns Old and New, for Use in the Services of the Church #d419

TextScoreAudio

The Cyber Hymnal #7530

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The Evangelical Hymnal with Tunes #544

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The Golden Hymn Book #153

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The Gospel Psalmist #935

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The Hymnal and Order of Service #575

Text

The Hymnal and Order of Service #575

The Hymnal of the Evangelical Lutheran Augustana Synod. Text ed. #d644

The Hymns for the Use of Evangelical Lutheran Congregations #d530

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The Lutheran Hymnal #522

TextPage Scan

The Lutheran Hymnary #524

The Mennonite Hymnal #264

The Oxford American Hymnal for Schools and Colleges #d380

The Pioneer Hymnal #d295

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The Presbyterian Hymnal #837

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The Presbyterian Hymnal #837

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The Reformed Church Hymnal #331

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The Spirit of Praise #42

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The Westminster Abbey Hymn-Book #275

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Wartburg Hymnal #283

Exclude 57 pre-1979 instances
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