"O God, Thou Faithful God"

                 By Johann Heermann, 1585-1647

                                  Text From:

                       THE LUTHERAN HYMNAL

        (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1941)







        1. O God, Thou faithful God,

        Thou Fountain ever flowing,

        Who good and perfect gifts

        In mercy art bestowing,

        Give me a healthy frame,

        And may I have within

        A conscience free from blame,

        A soul unhurt by sin!



        2. Grant Thou me strength to do

        With ready heart and willing

        Whate'er Thou shalt command,

        My calling here fulfilling;

        To do it when I ought,

        With all my might, and bless

        The work I thus have wrought,

        For Thou must give success.



        3. Oh, let me never speak

        What bounds of truth exceedeth;

        Grant that no idle word

        From out my mouth proceedeth;

        And then, when in my place

        I must and ought to speak,

        My words grant power and grace

        Lest I offend the weak.



        4. If dangers gather round,

        Still keep me calm and fearless;

        Help me to bear the cross

        When life is dark and cheerless;

        And let me win my foe

        With words and actions kind.

        When counsel I would know,

        Good counsel let me find.



        5.And let me with all men,

        As far as in me lieth,

        In peace and friendship live.

        And if Thy gift supplieth

        Great wealth and honor fair,

        Then this refuse me not,

        That naught be mingled there

        Of goods unjustly got.



        6. If Thou a longer life

        Hast here on earth decreed me;

        If Thou through many ills

        To age at length wilt lead me,

        Thy patience on me shed.

        Avert all sin and shame

        And crown my hoary head

        With honor free from blame.



        7. Let me depart this life

        Confiding in my Savior;

        Do Thou my soul receive

        That it may live forever;

        And let my body have

        A quiet resting-place

        Within a Christian grave;

        And let it sleep in peace.



        8. And on that solemn Day

        When all the dead are waking,

        Stretch o'er my grave Thy hand,

        Thyself my slumbers breaking.

        Then let me hear Thy voice,

        Change Thou this earthly frame,

        And bid me aye rejoice

        With those who love Thy name.



        


        Notes:

        Hymn #395 from _The Lutheran Hymnal_

        Text: 1 Kings 3: 5

        Author: Johann Heermann, 1630

        Translated by: Catherine Winkworth, 1858, alt.

        Titled: "O Gott, du frommer Gott"

        Tune: "O Gott, du frommer Gott"

        1st Published in: _Neuvermehrtes Gesangbuch_

        Town: Meniningen, 1693