"Zion Mourns in Fear and Anguish"

                 By Johann Heermann, 1585-1647

                                  Text From:

                       THE LUTHERAN HYMNAL

        (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1941)







        1. Zion mourns in fear and anguish,

        Zion, city of our God.

        "Ah," she says, "how sore I languish,

        Bowed beneath the chastening rod!

        For my God forsook me quite

        And forgot my sorry plight

        Mid these troubles now distressing,

        Countless woes my soul oppressing.



        2. "Once," she mourns, "He promised plainly

        That His help should e'er be near;

        Yet I now must seek Him vainly

        In my days of woe and fear.

        Will His anger never cease?

        Will He not renew His peace?

        Will He not show forth compassion

        And again forgive transgression?"



        3. "Zion, surely I do love thee,"

        Thus to her the Savior saith,

        "Though with many woes I prove thee

        And thy soul is sad to death.

        For My troth is pledged to thee;

        Zion, thou art dear to Me.

        Deep within My heart I've set thee,

        That I never can forget thee.



        4. "Let not Satan make thee craven;

        He can threaten, but not harm.

        On My hands thy name is graven,

        And thy shield is My strong arm.

        How, then, could it ever be

        I should not remember thee,

        Fail to build thy wall, My city,

        And look down on thee with pity?



        5. "Ever shall Mine eyes behold thee;

        On My bosom thou art laid.

        Ever shall My love enfold thee;

        Never shalt thou lack Mine aid.

        Neither Satan, war, nor stress

        Then shall mar thy happiness:

        With this blessed consolation

        Be thou firm in tribulation."



        


        Notes:

        Hymn #268 from _The Lutheran Hymnal_

        Text: Is. 49: 14-17

        Author: Johann Heermann, 1636, ab.

        Translated by: Catherine Winkworth, 1869, alt.

        Titled: "Zion klagt mit Angst und Schmerzen"

        Composer: J. Hermann Schein, 1623

        Tune: "Zion klagt"