Evangelical Lutheran hymnal ‎#418

418. If thou suffer God to guide thee

1 If thou but suffer God to guide thee,
And hope in Him thro' all thy ways,
He'll give thee strength, whate'er betide thee,
And bear thee thro' the evil days;
Who trusts in God's unchanging love,
Builds on the rock that none can move.

2 What can these anxious cares avail thee,
These never-ceasing moans and sighs?
What can it help, if thou bewail thee
O'er each dark moment as it flies?
Our cross and trials do but press
The heavier for our bitterness.

3 Only be still and wait His leisure
In cheerful hope, with heart content
To take whate'er Thy Father's pleasure
And all-deserving love hath sent;
Nor doubt our inmost wants are known
To Him who chose us for His own.

4 He knows the time for joy, and truly
Will send it when He sees it meet,
When He has tried and purged thee duly,
And finds thee free from all deceit,
He comes to thee all unaware,
And makes thee own His loving care.

5 Nor think, amid the heat of trial,
That God hath cast thee off unheard;
That he whose hopes meet no denial
Must surely be of God preferred;
Time passes and much change doth bring
And sets a bound to everything.

6 All are alike before the Highest;
'Tis easy to our God, we know,
To raise thee up, though low thou liest,
To make the rich man poor and low:
True wonders still by Him are wrought
Who setteth up and brings to nought.

7 Sing, pray, and keep His ways unswerving,
So do thine own part faithfully,
And trust His Word, though undeserving,
Thou yet shalt find it true for thee;
God never yet forsook at need
The soul that trusted Him indeed.

Text Information

• First Line: If thou suffer God to guide thee
• Author: George Neumark (1641)
• Paraphraser: Catherine Winkworth (1863)
• Meter: No. 32
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1908
• Topic: Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity; Christian Life and Hope: The Walk of Godliness: Cross and Consolation
• Notes: From the German text: Wer nur den lieben Gott laesst walten

Tune Information

• Name: NEUMARK (Wer nur den lieben Gott)
• Composer: George Neumark (1657)
• Meter: No. 32
• Key: g minor