"I Will Sing My Maker's Praises"
                by Paul Gerhardt, 1607-1676
                              Text From:
                   THE LUTHERAN HYMNAL
    (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1941)

        1. I will sing my Maker's praises
        And in Him most joyful be,
        For in all things I see traces
        Of His tender love to me.
        Nothing else than love could move Him
        With such sweet and tender care
        Evermore to raise and bear
        All who try to serve and love Him.
        All things else have but their day,
        God's great love abides for aye.

        2. Yea, so dear did He esteem me
        That His Son He loved so well
        He hath given to redeem me
        From the quenchless flames of hell.
        O Thou Spring of boundless blessing,
        How could e'er my feeble mind
        Of Thy depth the bottom find
        Though my efforts were unceasing?
        All things else have but their day,
        God's great love abides for aye.

        3. All that for my soul is needful
        He with loving care provides,
        Nor of that is He unheedful
        Which my body needs besides.
        When my strength cannot avail me,
        When my powers can do no more,
        Doth my God His strength outpour;
        In my need He doth not fail me.
        All things else have but their day,
        God's great love abides for aye.

        4. When I sleep, He still is near me,
        O'er me rests His guardian eye;
        And new gifts and blessings cheer me
        When the morning streaks the sky.
        Were it not for God's protection,
        Had His countenance not been
        Here my guide, I had not seen
        E'er the end of my affliction.
        All things else have but their day,
        God's great love abides for aye.

        5. As a father never turneth
        Wholly from a wayward child,
        For the prodigal still yearneth,
        Longing to be reconciled,
        So my many sins and errors
        Find a tender, pardoning God,
        Chastening frailty with His rod,
        Not in vengeance, with His terrors.
        All things else have but their day,
        God's great love abides for aye.

        6. Since, then, neither change nor coldness
        In my Father's love can be,
        Lo! I lift my hands with boldness,
        As Thy child I come to Thee.
        Grant me grace, O God, I pray Thee,
        That I may with all my might,
        All my lifetime, day and night,
        Love and trust Thee and obey Thee
        And, when this brief life is o'er,
        Praise and love Thee evermore.
       

        Notes:
        Hymn #25 from The Lutheran Hymnal
        Text: Eph. 5:19, 20
        Author: Paul Gerhardt, 1659, cento
        Translated by: composite
        Titled: Sollt' ich meinem Gott nicht singen
        Composer: Johann Schop, 1641
        Tune: Sollt' ich meinem Gott
         

        

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