1 I know that my Redeemer lives,
In this my faith is fast;
And whatsoe'er against Him strives
Will surely fall at last.
He lives, the mighty One, I know,
Whose arm overcomes the strongest for,
Who death and hell hath vanquished.
2 He lives, He lives; though dust shall lie
Upon my mouldering head,
Yet He will call me, by and by,
To quit an earthy bed;
And I shall waken at His voice,
Rise re-embodied,and rejoice
To look on my Redeemer.
3 His promise, who hath ne'er deceived,
In life and death I trust;
The Lord in whom I have believed
Will raise my sleeping dust:
In this my very flesh that dies
I shall revive, and with these eyes
Shall see the God who made me.
4 Myself shall see Him in my flesh,
With all His glory bright;
His presence shall my heart refresh,
And fill my soul with light.
Myself shall ever on Him gaze,
Myself shall ever sound His praise,
Myself, and not another.
5 Rise then, my soul, e'en now, and live
In hope's divine abode!
Let earth and Satan vainly strive
To tear thee from thy God.
The bier, the coffin, let them show
The grace, the gloom, the worm-- "I know
That my Redeemer liveth."
Source: The Lutheran Hymnary #332
Paul Gerhardt (b. Gräfenheinichen, Saxony, Germany, 1607; d. Lubben, Germany, 1676), famous author of Lutheran evangelical hymns, studied theology and hymnody at the University of Wittenberg and then was a tutor in Berlin, where he became friends with Johann Crüger. He served the Lutheran parish of Mittenwalde near Berlin (1651-1657) and the great St. Nicholas' Church in Berlin (1657-1666). Friederich William, the Calvinist elector, had issued an edict that forbade the various Protestant groups to fight each other. Although Gerhardt did not want strife between the churches, he refused to comply with the edict because he thought it opposed the Lutheran "Formula of Concord," which condemned some Calvinist doctrines. Consequently, he was r… Go to person page >
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