Hymnal and Order of Service ‎#158b

158b. Guardian of Pure Hearts

1 Guardian of pure hearts, and Hearer,
Lord, of every faithful prayer,
In Thy courts one day is dearer,
Than a thousand days elsewhere.
Worn with earth's unrest, how sweet
In Thy temple fair to meet!
There to sing away each sorrow
That from life and toil we borrow!

2 With the righteous oft it fareth
Here, as if his deeds were ill;
Blight fair virtue's flowers impaireth,
Weeds of vice do flourish still;
Joy and fortune haste away,
Friends with friends--how short their stay!
Rachel still her children mourneth,
And her soul from comfort turneth.

3 But when here devoutly soareth
High the temple-anthem sweet,
Grief grows calm, no plaint outpoureth--
Hearts with holy rapture beat:
Free from earthly clouds the soul
Presses toward a higher goal,
Takes from hope the comfort given,
Speaks e'en now the tongue of heaven.

4 O my soul, thy wing ascending,
Yet on Salem's mount shall rest;
There where cherub-harps are blending
With the singing of the blest;
Let thy note of praise and prayer
To thy God precede thee there,
While e'en yet a care-worn mortal,
Still without Thy Father's portal.

5 Days are dawning, days are flying!
Hold thou fast the Word of God:
"Lamp unto my feet", still crying
"Light unto my dreary road!"
Joy thou in that Holy Word
Which of old on earth was heard,
For man's peace and comfort given,
Only guide from earth to heaven.

6 Let us, Christians, here that wander,
As our fathers in their day,
Piously together ponder,
Gladly sing and meekly pray;
Be the children's voices raised
To the God their fathers praised.
Let Thy bounty failing never
Be on us and all forever.

7 Bless us, Father, and protect us,
Be our souls' sure hiding-place,
Let Thy wisdom still direct us,
Light our darkness with Thy grace!
Let Thy countenance on us shine,
Fill us all with peace divine.
Praise the Father, Son, and Spirit,
Praise Him all that life inherit.

Text Information

• First Line: Guardian of pure hearts and Hearer
• Title: Guardian of Pure Hearts
• Author: Johan Olof Wallin, 1779-1839 (1816)
• Author: Last verse by Jesper Svedberg, 1653-1735 (1694)
• Meter: 8 7, 8 7, 7 7, 8 8.
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1901
• Topic: Worship
• Notes: Original Form

Tune Information

• Name: WERDE MUNTER, MEIN GEMÜTHE
• Composer: Johann Schop (1642)
• Meter: 8 7, 8 7, 7 7, 8 8.