"If Thou But Suffer God to Guide Thee"
                          by Georg Neumark, 1621-1681
                 Translated by Catherine Winkworth, 1829-1878
                                  Text From:
                              THE LUTHERAN HYMNAL
                 (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1941)



	1. If thou but suffer God to guide thee
	And hope in Him through all thy ways,
	He'll give thee strength, whate'er betide thee,
	And bear thee through the evil days.
	Who trusts in God's unchanging love
	Builds on the Rock that naught can move.
	
	2. What can these anxious cares avail thee,
	These never-ceasing moans and sighs?
	What can it help if thou bewail thee
	O'er each dark moment as it flies?
	Our cross and trials do but press
	The heavier for our bitterness.
	
	3. Be patient and await His leisure
	In cheerful hope, with heart content
	To take whate'er thy Father's pleasure
	And His discerning love hath sent,
	Nor doubt our inmost wants are known
	To Him who chose us for His own.
	
	4. God knows full well when times of gladness
	Shall be the needful thing for thee.
	When He has tried thy soul with sadness
	And from all guile has found thee free,
	He comes to thee all unaware
	And makes thee own His loving care.
	
	5. Nor think amid the fiery trial
	That God hath cast thee off unheard,
	That he whose hopes meet no denial
	Must surely be of God preferred.
	Time passes and much change doth bring
	And sets a bound to everything.
	
	6. All are alike before the Highest;
	'Tis easy to our God, we know,
	To raise thee up, though low thou liest,
	To make the rich man poor and low.
	True wonders still by Him are wrought
	Who setteth up and brings to naught.
	
	7. Sing, pray, and keep His ways unswerving,
	Perform thy duties faithfully,
	And trust His Word, though undeserving,
	Thou yet shalt find it true for thee.
	God never yet forsook in need
	The soul that trusted Him indeed.

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        Notes:
        Hymn #518 from _The Lutheran Hymnal_
        Text: Ps. 55:22
        Author: Georg Neumark, 1640
        Translated by: Catherine Winkworth, 1863, alt.
        Titled: "Wer nur den lieben Gott laesst walten"
        Composer: Georg Neumark, 1640
        Tune: "Wer nur den lieben Gott"
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        This text was converted to ascii format for Project Wittenberg
           by Cindy A. Beesley 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 of the
              Walther Library at Concordia Theological Seminary.

                          E-mail: bob_smith@ctsfw.edu

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