1 Why should I repine in sadness?
Left alone, still I own
Christ, the Sun of gladness.
Nor am I deprived of heaven,
Which the Lord, my reward,
To my faith has given.
2 What though earthly cares o'ertake me,
Pain and loss be my cross?
He will not forsake me.
Sure relief from Him obtaining,
I shall see darkness flee
And the shadows waning.
3 From a thousand ills that grieve us
In this life full of strife
Death can but relieve us.
For it closeth sorrow's portal
Evermore, and its door
Leads to joys immortal.
4 What is all this life containeth
But a hand full of sand?
Earthly treasure waneth.
Nobler gifts beyond are waiting,
While my Lord will award
Pleasure unabating.
5 Lord, my Joy-spring, flowing ever,
I am Thine, Thou art mine;
Naught our hearts shall sever.
Thou for me Thy life didst offer,
Thou alone now dost own
All I have to proffer.
6 Thou art mine, by faith own Thee,
Nor will I, Light of joy.
From my heart dethrone Thee.
Grant that I Thy face beholding,
Ever may with Thee stay,
Blest in love's enfolding.
Source: American Lutheran Hymnal #275
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 >
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