Since Jesus Is My Friend

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Since Jesus is my Friend, and I to Him belong (Gerhardt)

Author: Paul Gerhardt (1656); Translator: Catherine Winkworth (1855 (arr., and vs. 1,2, alt.))
Tune: GREENWOOD (Sweetser)
Published in 114 hymnals

Printable scores: PDF, MusicXML
Audio files: MIDI

Piano/Organ
	Sing It Simply (25 Congregational Hymn A…

Instrumental
	O God, Beyond All Praising - Hymn Settin…

Handbells
	Spirit of God, Descend upon Our Hearts

Representative Text

1 Since Jesus is my Friend,
And I to him belong,
It matters not what foes intend,
However fierce and strong.

2 I rest upon the ground
Of Jesus and his Blood,
For 'tis through Him that I have found
The true eternal Good.

3 His Spirit in me dwells,
O'er all my mind he reigns,
All care and sadness he dispels,
And soothes away all pains.

4 He whispers in my breast
Sweet words of holy cheer,
How he who seeks in God his rest
Shall ever find him near.

5 How God hath built above
A city fair and new,
Where eye and heart shall see and prove
What faith has counted true.

6 My heart for gladness springs,
It cannot more be sad;
For very joy it laughs and sings,
Sees naught but sunshine glad.

7 The sun that lights mine eyes
Is Christ the Lord I love;
I sing for joy of that which lies
Stored up for me above.

Source: Service Book and Hymnal of the Lutheran Church in America #477

All representative texts • Compare texts ^ top

Author: Paul Gerhardt

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 >

Translator: Catherine Winkworth

Catherine Winkworth (b. Holborn, London, England, 1827; d. Monnetier, Savoy, France, 1878) is well known for her English translations of German hymns; her translations were polished and yet remained close to the original. Educated initially by her mother, she lived with relatives in Dresden, Germany, in 1845, where she acquired her knowledge of German and interest in German hymnody. After residing near Manchester until 1862, she moved to Clifton, near Bristol. A pioneer in promoting women's rights, Winkworth put much of her energy into the encouragement of higher education for women. She translated a large number of German hymn texts from hymnals owned by a friend, Baron Bunsen. Though often altered, these translations continue to be used i… Go to person page >

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First Line:	Since Jesus is my Friend, and I to Him belong (Gerhardt)
Title:	Since Jesus Is My Friend
German Title:	Ist Gott für mich, so trete
Author:	Paul Gerhardt (1656)
Translator:	Catherine Winkworth (1855 (arr., and vs. 1,2, alt.))
Language:	English
Copyright:	Public Domain