| Why should sorrow ever grieve me? Christ is near, What can here E’er of Him deprive me? Who can rob me of my heaven That God’s Son, As mine own, To my faith hath given? | | 2. Naked was I and unswathed When on earth At my birth My first breath I breathed. Naked hence shall I betake me, When I go From earth’s woe, And my breath forsake me. | | 3. Nought, not e’en the live I’m living, Is mine own, God alone All to me is giving. Must I then His own restore Him? Though bereft Of each gift, Still shall I adore Him. | | 4. Though a heavy cross I’m bearing, And my heart Feels the smart, Shall I be despairing? God can help me, who doth send it, He doth know All my woe And how best to end it. | | 5. God oft gives me days of gladness, Shall I grieve If He give Seasons too of sadness? God is good and tempers ever Every hurt, Me desert Wholly can He never. | | 6. Though united world and devil All their power Can no more Do than mock and cavil. Let derision now employ them, Christ e’en here Will appear And ’fore all destroy them. | | 7. True believers shrinking never, Where they dwell Should reveal Their true colors ever. When approaching death would scare them, Still should they Patient stay And with courage bear them. | | 8. Death can never kill us even, But relief From all grief To us then is given. It doth close life’s mournful story, Make a way That we may Pass to heavenly glory. | | 9. There I’ll reap enduring pleasure, After woe Here below Suffer’d in large measure. Lasting good we find here never, All the earth Deemeth worth Vanisheth forever. | | 10. What is all that life possesseth? But a hand Full of sand That the heart distresseth. Noble gifts that tire me never, Christ so free There gives me To enjoy forever. | | 11. Shepherd! Lord! joy’s fountain ever, Thou art mine, I am thine, No one can us sever. I am thine, because thou gavest Life and blood For my good, By thy death me savest. | | 12. Thou’rt mine, for I love and own thee, Ne’er shall I, Light of joy, From my heart dethrone thee. Let me, let me soon behold thee Face to face, Thy embrace May it soon enfold me. | |