The Hymnal and Order of Service ‎#593

593. My God, I Know That I Must Die

1 My God, I know that I must die:
My mortal life is passing hence;
On earth I neither hope nor try
To find a lasting residence.
Then teach me by Thy heav'nly grace
With joy and peace my death to face.

2 My God, I know not when I die;
What is the moment or the hour,
How soon the clay may broken lie,
How quickly pass away the flower:
Then may Thy child preparéd be
Through time to meet eternity.

3 My God, I know not how I die;
For death in many ways doth come,
In dark, mysterious agony,
Or gently as a sleep to some.
Just as Thou wilt, if but it be
To bring me, blesséd Lord, to Thee!

4 My God, I know not where I die,
Where is my grace, upon what strand;
Yet from its gloom I do rely
To be delivered by Thy hand.
Content, I take what spot is mine,
Since all the earth, my Lord, is Thine.

5 My gracious God, when I must die,
O bear my happy soul above,
With Christ, my Lord, eternally
To share Thy glory and Thy love:
Then all is right and well with me,
When, where, and how my death shall be.

Amen.

Text Information

• First Line: My God, I know that I must die
• Title: My God, I Know That I Must Die
• Author: Benjamin Schmolck (1700)
• Translator: Mrs. Sarah (Borthwick) Findlater
• Meter: 8 8, 8 8, 8 8.
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1937
• Topic: Last Things: Death and Burial

Tune Information

• Name: VATER UNSER IM HIMMELREICH
• Meter: 8 8, 8 8, 8 8.
• Key: B♭ Major
• Source: Strassburger Gesangbuch, 1537.