1. Why should cross and trial grieve me? Christ is near With His cheer; Never will He leave me. Who can rob me of the heaven That God's Son, For my own, To my faith hath given?
2. Nought not e'en the life I'm living, Is mine own, God alone All to me is giving. Must I then His own restore Him? Though bereft Of my flesh Still shall I adore Him.
3. Though a heavy cross I'm bearing, And my heart Feels the smart, Shall I be despairing? God can help me, who doth send it, He doth know All my woe And how best to end it.
4. God oft gives me days of gladness, Shall I grieve If He give Seasons too of sadness? God is good, and tempers ever All my ill, And He will Wholly leave me never.
5. Though united world and devil, All their pow'r Can no more Do but mock and quibble. Let them now employ their jeering, Christ will here Then appear Strike their hearts with fearing.
6. True believers shrinking never, Where they dwell Should reveal Their true colors ever. When approaching death may scare them, Still should they Patient stay And with courage bear them.
7. Death can never kill us even, But relief From all grief To us then is given. It doth close life's mournful story, Make a way That we may Pass to heav'nly glory.
8. There I'll reap enduring pleasure, After woe Here below Suffered in large measure. Lasting good we find here never, All that earth Deems as worth Vanishes for ever.
9. What is all this life possesses? But a hand Full of sand That the heart distresses. Noble gifts that pall me never, Christ so free There gives me To enjoy for ever.
10. Shepherd! Lord! joy's fountain ever, Thou art mine, I am Thine, No one can us sever. I am Thine, because Thou bought me; Lost I stood, But Thy blood Free salvation brought me.
11. Thou art mine; I love and own Thee, Light of joy, Ne'er shall I, From my heart dethrone Thee. Savior, let me soon behold Thee Face to face, Thy embrace May it soon enfold me!
Words: Paul Gerhardt, 1653. Translated by John Kelly, 1867, alt.
Music: 'Ebeling' or 'Bonn' or 'Warum Sollt Ich' or 'All My Heart This Night' Johann Georg Ebeling, 1666.
Setting: Karl Brauer, 1906, alt.
copyright: public domain. This score is a part of the Open Hymnal Project, 2025 Revision.
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