"From God Shall Naught Divide Me"
                         by Ludwig Helmbold, 1532-1598
                 Translated by Catharine Winkworth, 1829-1878
                                  Text From:
                              THE LUTHERAN HYMNAL
                 (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1941)



        1. From God shall naught divide me,
        For He is true for aye
        And on my path will guide me,
        Who else should often stray.
        His right hand holdeth me;
        For me He truly careth,
        My burdens ever beareth
        Wherever I may be.

        2. When man's help and affection
        Shall unavailing prove,
        God grants me His protection
        And shows His pow'r and love.
        He helps in ev'ry need,
        From sin and shame redeems me,
        From chains and bonds reclaims me,
        Yea, e'en from death I'm freed.

        3. God shall be my Reliance
        In sorrow's darkest night;
        Its dread I bid defiance
        When He is at my right.
        I unto Him commend
        My body, soul, and spirit--
        They are His own by merit--
        All's well then at the end.

        4. Oh, praise Him, for He never
        Forgets our daily need;
        Oh, blest the hour whenever
        To Him our thoughts can speed;
        Yea, all the time we spend
        Without Him is but wasted,
        Till we His joy have tasted,
        The joy that hath no end.

        5. Yea, when the world shall perish
        With all its pride and power,
        Whatever worldlings cherish
        Shall vanish in that hour.
        But though in death they make
        The deepest grave our cover,
        When there our sleep is over,
        Our God will us awake.

        6. What though I here must suffer
        Distress and trials sore,
        I merit ways still rougher;
        And yet there is in store
        For me eternal bliss,
        Yea, pleasures without measure,
        Since Christ is now my Treasure
        And shall be evermore.

        

        Notes:
        Hymn #393 from _The Lutheran Hymnal_
        Text: Joshua 24:16
        Author: Ludwig Helmbold, 1563, cento
        Translated by: Catharine Winkworth, 1863, alt.
        Titled: "Von Gott will ich nicht lassen"
        Tune: "Von Gott will ich nicht lassen"
        1st Published in: _Christliche Tischgesaenge_
        Town: Erfurt, 1572