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He Who Has Helped Me Hitherto

Representative Text

1 He who has helped me hitherto
Will be my help forever;
His grace to me each morn is new,
His mercy ceases never.
All things are spread before His eyes;
In love He hears His children's cries,
His care on them bestowing.

2 The stormy sea, the darkest wave,
The winter sorely pressing,
The deepest grief, the gloomy grave,
The memories distressing,
Are helpful means in God's employ,
Who turns our weeping into joy
And leads us by His counsel.

3 When resting in God's mighty hands,
Our hearts are filled with gladness,
Then broken are all earthly bands
That cause us grief and sadness,
And opened are the portals wide
To God's own house, where saints abide,
Where flows the fount eternal.

4 Tho' still our clay to earth belong,
On words of God, as pinions,
Our souls shall soar, forever young,
To heaven's fair dominions;
And, safe upon that lofty height,
From earth's distress and sorry plight,
Shall find sweet consolation.

5 What though the world our faith do scorn
And earthly treasure gather,
We know that we are heaven-born
And heirs of God, our Father;
We greet His summons with a smile:
Our clay shall in a little while
Receive the wings of eagles.

Source: American Lutheran Hymnal #291

Author: N. F. S. Grundtvig

Nicolai Frederik Severin Grundtvig was the son of a pastor, and was born at Udby, in Seeland, in 1783. He studied in the University of Copenhagen from 1800-1805; and, like some other eminent men, did not greatly distinguish himself; his mind was too active and his imagination too versatile to bear the restraint of the academic course. After leaving the university he took to teaching; first in Langeland, then (1808) in Copenhagen. Here he devoted his attention to poetry, literature, and Northern antiquities. In 1810 he became assistant to his father in a parish in Jutland. The sermon he preached at his ordination, on the subject "Why has the Lord's word disappeared from His house," attracted much attention, which is rarely the case with "pro… Go to person page >

Translator: P. C. Paulsen

Paul Christian Paulsen was born on March 26, 1881, in Alstrup, Jutland, Denmark. He emigrated to America in 1904, was ordained in 1911, and served as a Lutheran pastor in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, California, and Alberta, Canada. He died on July 26, 1948. NN, Hymnary Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: He who has helped me hitherto
Title: He Who Has Helped Me Hitherto
Author: N. F. S. Grundtvig
Translator: P. C. Paulsen
Meter: 8.7.8.7.8.8.7
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 3 of 3)
TextPage Scan

American Lutheran Hymnal #291

TextPage Scan

Hymnal for Church and Home #213

TextPage Scan

Hymnal for Church and Home (2nd ed.) #213

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