The 23rd Psalm of David

The Lord, the earth who ruleth

Author: Paul Gerhardt; Translator: J. Kelly (1867)
Published in 1 hymnal

Representative Text

The Lord, the earth who ruleth,
And with His hand controlleth,
Whose goodness never endeth,
He watcheth me and tendeth.

As long as He is near me
With every gift He’ll cheer me,
Of fulness overflowing
The riches aye bestowing.

By pastures green He leads me,
With gladness there He feeds me,
From purest springs revives me,
In need He counsel gives me.

And when the soul is fearful
Through grievous thoughts and careful,
He comfort giveth ever
And knows how to deliver.

My steps aright He leadeth,
And what to do me guideth,
And for His name’s sake glorious
O’er fear makes me victorious.

Though often left to ponder,
While in dark vales I wander,
No evil fear I ever,
Distress o’ertakes me never.

Thou standest still beside me,
From wicked men dost hide me,
Thy rod and staff protect me,
And no fear can deject me.

My table Thou preparest,
For my refreshment carest,
When foes are plotting round me,
And seek to pain and wound me.

My head with oil anointest,
My empty soul appointest
Of every good and pleasure
A full o’erflowing measure.

The goodness Thou bestowest,
The mercy that Thou showest,
Till life itself forsake me,
Shall glad and joyful make me.

Thy service will I never
Forsake, but praise Thee ever,
In Thy house where Thou livest,
Reward to goodness givest.

As long as life is given
On earth here, and in heaven
Where I shall stand before Thee,
I’ll evermore adore Thee!

Paul Gerhardt’s Spiritual Songs, 1867

Author: Paul Gerhardt

Paul Gerhardt (b. Gräfenheinichen, Saxony, Germany, 1607; d. Lubben, Germany, 1676), famous author of Lutheran evangelical hymns, studied theology and hymnody at the University of Wittenberg and then was a tutor in Berlin, where he became friends with Johann Crüger. He served the Lutheran parish of Mittenwalde near Berlin (1651-1657) and the great St. Nicholas' Church in Berlin (1657-1666). Friederich William, the Calvinist elector, had issued an edict that forbade the various Protestant groups to fight each other. Although Gerhardt did not want strife between the churches, he refused to comply with the edict because he thought it opposed the Lutheran "Formula of Concord," which con­demned some Calvinist doctrines. Consequently, he was r… Go to person page >

Translator: J. Kelly

Kelly, John, was born at Newcastle-on-Tyne, educated at Glasgow University, studied theology at Bonn, New College, Edinburgh, and the Theological College of the English Presbyterian Church (to which body he belongs) in London. He has ministered to congregations at Hebburn-on-Tyne and Streatham, and was Tract Editor of the Religious Tract Society. His translations of Paul Gerhardt's Spiritual Songs were published in 1867. Every piece is given in full, and rendered in the metre of the originals. His Hymns of the Present Century from the German were published in 1886 by the Religious Tract Society. In these translations the metres of the originals have not always been followed, whilst some of the hymns have been abridged and others condens… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: The Lord, the earth who ruleth
Title: The 23rd Psalm of David
German Title: Der Herr, der aller Enden
Author: Paul Gerhardt
Translator: J. Kelly (1867)
Meter: 7.7.7.7
Language: English
Publication Date: 1867
Copyright: This text is in the public domain in the United States because it was published before 1929.

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Text

Paul Gerhardt's Spiritual Songs #57

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