Lutheran Book of Worship ‎#454

454. 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 I build on this foundation,
That Jesus and his blood
Alone are my salvation,
The true, eternal good.
Without him all that pleases
Will vain and empty prove.
The gifts I have from Jesus
Alone are worth my love.

3 Christ Jesus is my splendor,
My sun, my light, alone;
Were he not my defender
Before God’s awesome throne,
I never should find favor
And mercy in his sight,
But be destroyed forever
As darkness by the light.

4 For joy my heart is ringing;
All sorrow disappears;
And full of mirth and singing,
It wipes away all tears.
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
• Translator: Richard Massie, 1800-1887 (adapt.)
• Author: Paul Gerhardt, 1607-1675
• Meter: 76 76 D
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1978
• Topic: Trust, Guidance; Pentecost 12; Pentecost 15 (Year A); Comfort and Rest; Justification; Sorrow

Tune Information

• Name: IST GOTT FÜR MICH
• Meter: 76 76 D
• Key: C Major
• Source: Augsburg, 1609
• Copyright: Setting © 1953 Württembergisches Choralbuch