'If God Himself be for me' (hymn) written by Paul Gerhardt, translated by Richard Massie

If God Himself be for me,

I may a hist defy;

For when I pray, before me

My foes confounded fly.

This I believe - yea, rather 

Of this I make my boast -

That God is my dear Father,

The Friend who loves me most.


And that, whate'er betide me,

My Saviour is at hand,

Through stormy seas to guide me,

And bring me safe to land.

I build on this foundation,

That Jesus and his blood

Alone are my salvation,

The true, eternal good.


His Holy Spirit dwelleth

Within my willing heart,

Tames it, when it rebelleth,

And smooths the keenest smart;

And when my soul is lying

Weak, trembling and oppressed,

He pleads with groans and sighing

That cannot be expressed.


To mine His Spirit speaketh

Sweet words of soothing power,

How God, for 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.



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