Befiehl du deine Wege.
Nicolaus Ludwig v. Zinzendorf, 1721.
Tr. Jane Borthwick, 1846. a.
Jesus, still lead on,
Till our rest be won;
And although the way be cheerless,
We will follow, calm and fearless,
Guide us by Thy hand
To our fatherland.
If the way be drear,
If the foe be near,
Let not faithless fears o'ertake us,
Let not faith and hope forsake us;
For through many a foe
To our home we go.
When we seek relief
From a long-felt grief,
When temptations come alluring,
Make us patient and enduring;
Show us that bright shore
Where we weep no more.
Jesus, still lead on,
Till our rest be won;
Heavenly Leader, still direct us,
Still support, console, protect us,
Till we safely stand
In our fatherland.
Paul Gerhardt, 1656.
Tr. A. Ramsey, 1916.
Commit thy ways and faring
With all that grieves thy soul,
To His e'er faithful caring
Who doth the heavens control;
Who giving course and highway
To clouds and winds and breeze,
Will find for thee a byway
Where thou canst fare at ease.
But thou must trust Him wholly
To make thy welfare sure;
And look to His work solely
To have thy works endure.
God lets none snatch a blessing
By fretful grief and care
Nor one's own self-distressing;
It must be got by prayer.
Thy faithfulness unfailing,
O Father, and Thy grace
Mark good or ill prevailing
Amongst this mortal race;
Then what Thou wilt decreeing
And pressing on with ease,
Thou bring'st to pass and being
Whate'er Thy counsels please.
All ways do Thine possessing,
Thou lack'st not means nor might.
Thy deed is purest blessing,
Thy path serenest light.
And none Thy work can hinder,
Nor can Thy labors rest
Whenever Thou wouldst render
Thy children what is best.
Though devils all endeavor,
And fain would work defeat,
Beyond all doubt soever
The Lord will not retreat.
Whatever He proposes,
Whate'er He takes in hand,
Whene'er His set time closes
Will come to pass as planned.
Hope on, poor soul, and bravely;
Hope on, no more perplexed.
God from those deeps will save thee
Where thou by griefs art vexed.
With grace will He secure thee;
But wait His time as thine,
And thou wilt see most surely
The sun of gladness shine.
Up! Up! Away with grieving.
Bid anxious fret begone,
Thy heart its sadness leaving,
Its woes ne'er dwelt upon.
Though thou, who dost not govern,
Canst naught at all compel,
God sits enthroned and sov'reign
And doeth all things well.
Let Him, a Ruler knowing,
Arrange for thee, and do.
Thou'lt see with wonder growing
How He will bring thee through;
And how, by means most seemly,
By counsels wondrous deep,
He bears Himself supremely
In works which thou dost weep.
True, He awhile will tarry,
His comforting delayed,
And seem Himself to carry
As minded not to aid;
May seem to turn Him from thee,
Nor e'en, though o'er and o'er
Thy cares and griefs o'ercome thee
To ask about thee more.
But though thou seem neglected,
And yet believing be,
When least by thee expected
Will He deliver thee.
Thy heart will He deliver
From all its burd'ning woe
Which thou, unharmed however,
Hast carried hitherto.
And well with thee thereafter,
Child of the Faithful, found
Midst praise and thanks and laughter,
A conqueror, and crowned.
The palms in hand before him,
Which God Himself bestows,
With glad songs thou'lt adore Him
Who turned aside thy woes.
Make end, O Lord, good ending
To all our woes ere long.
With strength on us attending,
Our hands and feet make strong.
Thy faithful care bestowing,
Till death, our ways attend;
Then surely, heavenward going
Our ways in heaven will end.