Christian Worship (1993) ‎#419

419. 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, my head and master,
Befriend me from above,
What foe or what disaster
Can drive me from his love?

2 This I believe, yea rather,
Of this I make my boast,
That God is my dear Father,
My friend who loves me most,
And that, whate'er betide me,
My Savior is at hand
Through stormy seas to guide me
And bring me safe to land.

3 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 have from Jesus
Alone have priceless worth.

4 He canceled my offenses,
Delivered me from death;
He is the Lord who cleanses
My soul from sin through faith.
In him I can be cheerful,
Courageous on my way;
In him I am not fearful
Of God's great Judgment Day.

5 No sin can now condemn me
Or set my hope aside.
Now hell no more can claim me;
Its fury I deride.
No sentence now reproves me;
No guilt destroys my peace,
For Christ, my Savior, loves me
And shields me with his grace.

6 No danger, thirst, or hunger,
No pain or poverty,
No earthly tyrant's anger
Shall ever vanquish me.
Though earth should break asunder,
You are my Savior true;
No fire or sword or thunder
Shall sever me from you.

7 My heart for joy is springing
And can no more be sad,
'Tis full of joy and singing,
Sees only sunshine glad.
The sun that cheers my spirit
Is Jesus Christ, my King;
The heav'n I shall inherit
Makes me rejoice and sing.

Text Information

• First Line: If God himself be for me
• Title: If God Himself Be For Me
• Author: Paul Gerhardt, 1607-76 (abr.)
• Translator (st. 1-3, 6-7): Richard Massie, 1800-87 (alt.)
• Translator (st. 4-5): Unknown (alt.)
• Meter: 76 76 D
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1993
• Topic: Trust

Tune Information

• Name: VALET WILL ICH DIR GEBEN
• Composer: Melchior Teschner, 1584-1635 (alt.)
• Meter: 76 76 D
• Key: B♭ Major
• Copyright: Setting: © 1993 Kermit G. Moldenhauer. Used by permission.