Cross and Comfort

Rejoice, My Heart, Be Glad and Sing

Words:
Paul Gerhardt, 1653. Translation composite.
Music:
'Ich Singe dir mit Herz' Johann Balthasar König, 1738.
Setting:
"Evangelical Lutheran Hymn-Book", 1931.
Metre:
8 6 8 6
  1. 1Rejoice, my heart, be glad and sing,A cheerful trust maintain;For God, the Source of everything,Thy Portion shall remain.
  2. 2He is thy Treasure, He thy Joy,Thy Life and Light and Lord,Thy Counselor when doubts annoy,Thy Shield and great Reward.
  3. 3Why spend the day in blank despair,In restless thought the night?On thy Creator cast thy care;He makes thy burdens light.
  4. 4Did not His love and truth and pow'rWatch o'er thy childhood day?Has He not oft in threat'ning hourTurned dreaded ills away?
  5. 5His wisdom never plans in vain,Ne'er falters or mistakes;All that His counsels did ordainA happy ending makes.
  6. 6Upon thy lips, then, lay thy handAnd trust His guiding love;Then like a rock thy peace shall standHere and in heav'n above.
  7. 7O Lord I sing with lips and heart,Joy of my soul, to Thee:To Earth Thy knowledge I impart,As it is known to me.
  8. 8Thou art the Fount of grace, I know,And Spring so full and free,Whence saving health and goodness flowEach day so bounteously.
  9. 9For what have all that live and moveThrough this wide world belowThat does not from Thy bounteous love,O Heav'nly Father flow?
  10. 10Who built the lofty firmament?Who spread th'expanse of blue?By whom are to our pastures sentRefreshing rain and dew?
  11. 11Who warmeth us in cold and frost?Who shields us from the wind?Who orders it that oil and mustWe in their season find?
  12. 12Who is it life and health bestows?Who keeps us with His handIn golden peace, wards off war's woesFrom our dear native land?
  13. 13O Lord of this and all our storeThou art the author blest;Thou keepest watch before our door,While we securely rest.
  14. 14Thou feedest us from year to year,And constant dost abide;With ready help in time of fear,Thou standest at our side.
  15. 15He ever will with patience chide,His rod falls gently down,And all thy sins He casts asideAnd in the sea doth drown.
  16. 16When silent woe thy bosom rends,His pity sees thy grief,Supplies what to His glory tendsAnd to thine own relief.
  17. 17He knows how oft a Christian weepsAnd why his tears now fall;And in the book His mercy keepsThese things are noted all.
  18. 18Our deepest needs dost Thou supply,Thou giv'st what lasts for aye.Thou lead'st us to our home on high,When hence we pass away.

Scripture

Topics

In the hymnals

Words, music and setting are in the public domain. The score is from the Open Hymnal Project (Brian J. Dumont), which places its own work in the public domain. The piano is the FluidR3 General MIDI sound font (MIT licence). How many hymnals print a hymn, and when it was written, is from Hymnary.org.

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