Evangelical Lutheran hymnal ‎#43

43. Jesus! shall our watch-word be

1 Jesus! shall our watchword be,
As the New Year's dawn spreads o'er us;
Jesus' Name alone will we
As our standard bear before us;
In His cov'nant grace we stand,
Journeying to the promised land.

2 Jesus' Name and Jesus' Word
Shall resound in fullest measure
In our churches, and be heard.
May we tread His courts with pleasure,
That our hearts, through grace anew,
Prove a holy temple too.

3 Thus our pathways would we tread,
And in Jesus' Name confide us;
While this Star guides over head,
Nothing evil can betide us;
In its light of grace and love
Blessings come from heaven above.

4 Jesus' Name shall lighten pain,
And in all our ills relieve us;
Losses thus shall turn to gain,
And to blessings what seemed grievous;
Jesus' Name is Sun and Shield,
Here must all our sorrows yield.

Text Information

• First Line: Jesus! shall our watch-word be
• Author: Benjamin Schmolck (1726)
• Translator: James Drummond Burns (1869)
• Meter: No. 22
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1908
• Topic: New Year: Festival of the Circumcision; The Church Year: New Year; New Year's Day
• Notes: From the German text: Jesus soll die Losung sein

Tune Information

• Name: SAXONY (Meinen Jesum lass ich nicht)
• Composer: Andreas Hammerschmidt (1658)
• Meter: No. 22
• Key: C Major