Church Hymnal (Fifth Ed.) ‎#15b

15b. If thou but suffer God to guide thee

1 If thou but suffer God to guide thee,
and hope in him through all thy ways,
he'll give thee strength whate'er betide thee,
and bear thee through the evil days;
who trusts in God's unchanging love
builds on the rock that nought 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,
his all-discerning love, hath sent;
nor doubt our inmost wants are known
to him who chose us for his own.

4 Sing, pray, and keep his ways unswerving;
so do thine own part faithfully,
and trust his word: through 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 but suffer God to guide thee
• German Title: Wer nur den lieben Gott lässt walten
• Author: Georg Neumark (1621–81)
• Translator: Catherine Winkworth (1827–78) (altd.)
• Meter: 98 98 88
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 2000
• Topic: God the Father, Creator: God's Guidance and Grace

Tune Information

• Name: GUIDANCE
• Composer: Donald Davison (b. 1937)
• Meter: 98 98 88
• Incipit: 51232 17155 65712
• Key: G Major or modal
• Copyright: © Oxford University Press.