Paul Gerhardt's Spiritual Songs Part 14

And ever be my joy in woe, When weak, with Thy strength stay me; And when my course is run below, I down to rest will lay me.

Then may Thy love and truth with me, O Christ! abide for ever, Leave me never, Till I Thy glory see, Oh! may they waft me thither!

THE FIRST PSALM OF DAVID.

Bless'd is he who never taketh Counsel of unG.o.dly men!

Bless'd, the right who ne'er forsaketh, Nor in sinners' paths is seen, Who the scorners' friendship spurns, From their seats away who turns, Who delight in G.o.d's word taketh, This his meditation maketh.

Bless'd is he who pleasure taketh In G.o.d's laws' most perfect way, It is his lov'd resort who maketh Where he lingers night and day!

Oh! His blessing blooms and grows, As the palm where water flows, And abroad its branches spreadeth, And the wayworn pilgrim shadeth.

He will truly ever flourish Who G.o.d's word delights to do, Air and earth alike will nourish Him, till ripe his fruit shall grow.

Though his leaf grow old, yet he Ever fresh and green shall be, G.o.d success to his endeavour Giveth, and it prospers ever.

But he who in sin's ways goeth Is like chaff the wind before, When it riseth up and bloweth, And we find it here no more.

Where the Lord His people guide, There the G.o.dless ne'er abide, G.o.d the faithful loves and guideth, On the wicked wrath abideth.

THE 112TH PSALM OF DAVID.

Bless'd is he the Lord who loveth, At His word doth tremble aye!

Bless'd whose heart him freely moveth G.o.d's commandments to obey.

Who the Highest loves and fears, Findeth increase with the years Of all that to him is given By the bounteous hand of Heaven.

His dear children shall stand ever Like to roses in their blow; Flowing with G.o.d's goodness over, On his generations go.

What the body needs below G.o.d who rules all will bestow, He will bounteously relieve them, Plenty in their dwellings give them.

The right deeds of the believer Nought can shake, they stand secure; If a storm o'ertakes him ever, Still doth G.o.d, his Light endure, Comforts, shieldeth with His pow'r, So that after darkness' hour, After night of tears and sorrow, Joy and sunshine glad the morrow.

G.o.d's compa.s.sion, grace, and favour For the faithful still endure.

Blessed are the souls who ever Think upon the needy poor, Love them, seek to do them good; For the ever-living G.o.d In His arms of grace will bear them, And a home above prepare them.

When the black clouds o'er them lighten, And the pealing thunders shock, They shall sit, and nought shall frighten, Like the dove hid in the rock; They'll remain eternally, And their memory shall be Upon every side extending, As their branches trees are sending.

When misfortunes overtake them, Whereby sinners low are laid, Firm their courage, nought can shake them, And their hearts are undismay'd; Undismay'd, from care are free, Hearts that unreservedly To the Lord their G.o.d are given, Love Him when forsaken even.

Who delight take in relieving Sad ones, to the Lord are dear; What the loving hands are giving, G.o.d will recompense e'en here.

Who much giveth much will gain, He shall not desire in vain, What his heart desires and willeth, G.o.d in His good time fulfilleth.

But the foes who triumph'd o'er them, They shall see depart beneath; Satan who such malice bore them, Evermore shall gnash his teeth: Sorely will it him displease When their blessedness he sees, Yet that he can rob them never, Only waste himself for ever.

THE 121ST PSALM OF DAVID.

Lord! to Thee alone I raise Evermore mine eager eyes, Upturn'd is my constant gaze To the hills that pierce the skies: To the hills whence flow to me Help and saving health from Thee!

All my succour comes to me From my great Creator's hand, Who hath deck'd so beauteously Earth and sky, air, sea, and land, And with ev'ry good supplied, That our needs be satisfied.

Lest thy feet, my soul! should stray From the narrow path of right, He is with thee in the way, And preserves thee day and night.

Trust Him! and the hosts of h.e.l.l Never more shall work thee ill.

Sleepless vigils doth He keep When thou liest down to rest; When thou'rt sunk in slumbers deep, To thy side at His behest Angel hosts then wing their flight, Thee to guard through all the night.

All thou hast and all thou art Is encircled by His love; Ev'ry grief that wrings thy heart Doth He graciously remove.

Soul and body shieldeth He, When dark tempests threaten thee.

When the noonday's burning sun All thy body's strength doth blight, When the midnight stars and moon Dazzle with their brilliant light, Then His hand of mighty pow'r, Shades thee in the trying hour.

May He still protection yield, Faithful Shepherd be, and near Still remain thy rock and shield, When thy heart's oppress'd with fear.

When of need thou feel'st the smart, May He press thee to His heart.

Dost thou sit or rise again, Dost thou speak or dost thou hear, Still at home dost thou remain, Art abroad when none is near, Dost thou wander in or out?

He will compa.s.s thee about.

THE 139TH PSALM OF DAVID.

Lord, Thou my heart dost search and try, And what is hidden from mine eye Thou seest, all I am and own To Thine omniscient mind is known.

Whene'r I sit, lie down, or stand, Or walk, or run, on ev'ry hand Thy presence doth encompa.s.s me, At all times I am hard by Thee.

And all the thoughts that stir my heart, That lurk in its most secret part, Thy searching eye doth scrutinize Ere they to consciousness arise.

And never from my tongue a word Escapes, by Thee, O Lord, unheard; Thou order'st all I speak or do, And guidest me life's journey through.

'Tis true, I know, but must remain A knowledge I can ne'er attain, A mystery beyond the ken Of feeble and short-sighted men.

Where shall I from Thy Spirit fly, Escape from Thine omniscient eye?

Where shall I from Thy presence hide, And where remote from Thee abide?

If I ascend the utmost height Of heav'n, there art Thou, thron'd in light; Or should I down to h.e.l.l repair And make my bed, I'd find Thee there.

Should I on morning's pinions ride, As far as ocean's empire wide Of stormy waves breaks on the land, I'd be upheld by Thy right hand.

Or if the help of night I sought, No change by darkness would be wrought, For let the night be as it may, With Thee is ever cloudless day.

'Mid darkest shadows Thou canst see, The darkness is a light to Thee, Thy glance is ever clear and bright, From sun and moon Thou need'st no light.

My reins Thou ever hast possess'd, For in Thy hand they ever rest, From infancy Thou hast me led, With daily blessings crown'd my head.

Thou hast, who'rt greatly to be fear'd, My frame with cunning hand uprear'd; Thy works, Thy wondrous pow'r forth tell, And that my soul doth know right well.

My substance was not hid from Thee, When I in secret curiously Was fashion'd in the depths of earth, From whence Thy pow'r hath brought me forth.

Before my time, my times for me Determin'd were by Thy decree, The tale of years and days I'd see, Hours, moments, all were fix'd by Thee.