Text:If God Himself be for me
Author:Paul Gerhardt
Translator:Richard Massie
Tune:OLD 130TH PSALM

424. 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 I build on this foundation,
That Jesus and His Blood
Alone are my salvation,
My true, eternal good:
Without Him, all that pleases
Is valueless on earth:
The gifts I ow to Jesus
Alone my love are worth.

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

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

Text Information
First Line: If God Himself be for me
German Title: Ist Gott für mich, so trete
Translator: Richard Massie (1856)
Author: Paul Gerhardt (1656)
Meter: 7, 6.
Language: English
Publication Date: 1890
Topic: The Christian Life: Trust; Easter Season, Fifth Sunday; Easter Season, Sixth Sunday (2 more...)
Notes: Alternate tune: #305, #335 or #368
Tune Information
Name: OLD 130TH PSALM
Meter: 7, 6.
Key: e minor
Notes: Composer from index; Goudimel, 1562, Secular origin? 1542?



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