"Why Should Cross and Trial Grieve Me?"

                       by Paul Gerhardt, 1607-1676

                                      Text From:

             THE HANDBOOK TO THE LUTHERAN HYMNAL

        (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1942), p. 367







	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. Though a heavy cross I'm bearing

	And my heart Feels the smart,

	Shall I be despairing?

	God, my Helper, who doth send it,

	Well doth know All my woe

	And how best to end it.



	3. 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.



	4. Hopeful, cheerful, and undaunted

	Everywhere They appear

	Who in Christ are planted.

	Death itself cannot appal them,

	They rejoice When the voice

	Of their Lord doth call them.



	5. Death cannot destroy forever;

	From our fears, Cares, and tears

	It will us deliver.

	It will close life's mournful story,

	Make a way That we may

	Enter heavenly glory.



	6. What is all this life possesses?

	But a hand Full of sand

	That the heart distresses.

	Noble gifts that pall me never

	Christ, our Lord, Will accord

	To His saints forever.



	7. Lord, my Shepherd, take me to Thee.

	Thou art mine; I was Thine,

	Even e'er I knew Thee.

	I am Thine, for Thou hast bought me;

	Lost I stood, But Thy blood

	Free salvation brought me.



	8. 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, -May Thy grace

	Evermore enfold me!



	


	Notes:

	Hymn #523 from The Handbook to The Lutheran Hymnal

	Text: Ps. 73: 23

	Author: Paul Gerhardt

	Translated by: composite, based on John Kelly, 1867

	Titled: Warum sollt' ich mich denn graemen

	Composer: Johann G. Ebeling, 1666

	Tune: Warum sollt' ich mich denn graemen