"My Inmost Heart Now Raises"
                       by Georg Nigidius, 1525-1588
            Translation based on Catherine Winkworth, 1829-1878
                                Text From:
                            THE LUTHERAN HYMNAL
               (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1941)



        1. My inmost heart now raises
        In this fair morning hour
        A song of thankful praises
        To Thine almighty pow'r,
        O God, upon Thy throne.
        To honor and adore Thee,
        I bring my praise before Thee
        Thro' Christ, Thine only Son.

        2. For Thou from me hast warded
        All perils of the night;
        From ev'ry harm hast guarded
        My soul till morning light.
        To Thee I humbly cry,
        O Savior, have compassion
        And pardon my transgression;
        Have mercy, Lord most high!

        3. And shield me from all evil,
        O gracious God, this day,
        From sin, and from the devil,
        From shame and from dismay,
        From fire's consuming breath,
        From water's devastation,
        From need and consternation,
        From evil sudden death.

        4. Let not Thine angel leave me
        While here on earth I stay
        Lest Satan's arts deceive me
        And lead my soul astray.
        Then keep Thine angel near
        At night and each new morrow
        Lest soul and body sorrow
        And falt'ring cost me dear.

        5. God shall do my advising,
        Whose might with wisdom blends;
        May He bless rest and rising,
        My efforts, means, and ends!
        To God, forever blest,
        Will I with mine confide me,
        And willing let Him guide me
        As seemeth to Him best.

        6. Amen I say, not fearing
        That God rejects my prayer;
        I doubt that He is hearing
        And granting me His care.
        Thus I go on my way
        And do not look behind me,
        But ply the task assigned me;
        God's help shall be my stay.

        

        Notes:
        Hymn #548 from _The Lutheran Hymnal_
        Text: Psalm 118:1
        Author: Georg Nigidius, d. 1588
        Translation based on Catherine Winkworth, 1863
        Titled: "Aus meines Herzens Grunde"
        Tune: "Aus meines Herzens Grunde"
        1st Published in: _Neu Catechismus-Gesangbuechlein_
        Town: Hamburg, 1598