The Lutheran Hymnary ‎#457

457. O God, Thou faithful God

1 O God, Thou faithful God,
Thou fountain ever flowing,
Without whom nothing is,
All perfect gifts bestowing;
A pure and healthy frame
O give me, and within
A conscience free from blame,
A soul unhurt by sin.

2 And grant me, Lord, 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 strength, and bless
The work I thus have wrought,
For Thou must give success.

3 And let me promise naught
But I can keep it truly,
Abstain from idle words,
And guard my lips still duly;
And grant, when in my place
I must and ought to speak,
My words due power and grace;
Nor let me wound 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;
To overcome my foe
With words and actions kind:
When counsel I would know,
Good counsel let me find.

5 And let me be with all
In peace and friendship living,
As far as Christians may;
And if Thou aught art giving
Of wealth and honors fair,
That naught be mingled there
Of goods unjustly got.

6 And if a longer life
Be here on earth decreed me,
And Thou through many a strife
To age at last wilt lead me,
Thy patience on me shed.
Avert all sin and shame,
And crown my hoary head
With pure untarnished fame.

7 Let nothing that may chance,
Me from my Savior sever;
And, dying with Him, take
My soul to Thee for ever;
And let my body have
A little space to sleep
Beside my fathers' grave,
And friends that o'er it weep.

8 And when the end is come
And all the dead are waking,
O reach me down Thy hand,
Thyself my slumbers breaking;
Then let me hear Thy voice,
And change this earthly frame,
And bid me aye rejoice
With those who love Thy name.

Text Information

• First Line: O God, Thou faithful God
• Author: J. Heermann (1630)
• Meter: 6, 7, 6, 7, 6, 6, 6, 6.
• Publication Date: 1913
• Topic: The Church Year: Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity; Sanctification

Tune Information

• Name: [O God, Thou faithful God]
• Meter: 6, 7, 6, 7, 6, 6, 6, 6.
• Key: F Major
• Source: Meiningisches Gesangbuch, 1693