"If God Were Not Upon Our Side"
	Ps. 124.  Justus Jonas, 1524; C. Winkworth, tr., a.
	Text from: EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN HYMN-BOOK
	(St. Louis: Concordia Publishing  House, 1912), pp. 287-288.
	
	
	284
	8, 7, 8, 7, 8, 8, 7
	
	IF God were not upon our side
	When round us foes are raging,
	Were not Himself our help and guide
	When bitter war they're waging,
	Were He not Israel's mighty shield,
	To whom their utmost craft must yield,
	We surely must have perished.
	
	2.  But now no human wit or might
	His chosen people frighteth,
	God sitteth in His highest height,
	And He their counsels blighteth;
	When craftiest snares and nets they lay,
	God doth His work another way,
	and makes a path before us.
	
	3.  Against our souls they rage and mock,
	Exciting great commotion:
	As billows meet with angry shock
	Out on the stormy ocean,
	So they our lives with fury seek;
	But God hath pity on the weak,
	And Him they have forgotten.
	
	4.  They call us heretics, and aye
	Their Christian name are flaunting;
	They seek to spill our blood, while they
	Their fear of God are vaunting.
	Ah, God! That precious name of Thine
	O'er many a wicked deed must shine
	But Thou wilt once avenge it.
	
	5.  They open wide their ravenous jaws,
	And threaten to devour us,
	But thanks to God, who rules our cause,
	The shall not overpower us;
	Their snares He yet will bring to naught,
	And overthrow what they have taught;
	God is too mighty for them.
	
	6.  How richly He consoleth those
	Whom no one else befriendeth!
	The door of grace doth never close;
	Sense cannot comprehend it,
	How this may be, and deems all lost,
	Then through this very cross a host
	Of champions God is raising.
	
	7.  Our foes, O God, are in Thy hand,
	Thou knowest their endeavor;
	But only give us strength to stand,
	And let us waver never,
	Though reason strives with faith, and still
	It fears to wholly trust Thy will,
	And sees not Thy salvation.
	
	8.  But heaven and earth, O Lord, are Thine,
	For Thou alone hast made them;
	Thy light let on Thy people shine,
	And in their sorrows aid them;
	Kindle our hearts to love and faith
	That shall be steadfast e'en to death
	Howe'er the world may murmur!
	
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	This text was converted to text format for Project Wittenberg 
	by Christopher M. Fincher and is in the public domain. You may
	freely distribute, copy or print this text. Please direct any 
	comments or suggestions to:
	 
	Rev. Robert E. Smith, Concordia	Theological Seminary.
	E-mail: CFWLibrary@CRF.CUIS.EDU
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