"Commit Whatever Grieves Thee" by Paul Gerhardt, 1607-1676 Text From: THE HANDBOOK TO THE LUTHERAN HYMNAL (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1942), pp. 362-363 1. Commit whatever grieves thee Into the gracious hands Of Him who never leaves thee, Who heaven and earth commands. Who points the clouds their courses, Whom winds and waves obey, He will direct thy footsteps And find for thee a way. 2. On Him place thy reliance If thou wouldst be secure; His work thou must consider If thine is to endure. By anxious sighs and grieving And self-tormenting care God is not moved to giving; All must be gained by prayer. 3. Thy truth and grace, O Father, Most surely see and know Both what is good and evil For mortal man below. According to Thy counsel Thou wilt Thy work pursue; And what Thy wisdom chooseth Thy might will always do. 4. Thy hand is never shortened, All things must serve Thy might; Thine every act is blessing, Thy path is purest light. Thy work no man can hinder, Thy purpose none can stay, Since Thou to bless Thy children Wilt always find a way. 5. Though all the powers of evil The will of God oppose, His purpose will not falter, His pleasure onward goes. Whate'er God's will resolveth, Whatever He intends. Will always be accomplished True to His aims and ends. 6. Then hope, my feeble spirit, And be thou undismayed; God helps in every trial And makes thee unafraid. Await His time with patience, Then shall thine eyes behold The sun of joy and gladness His brightest beams unfold. 7. Arise, my soul, and banish Thy anguish and thy care. Away with thoughts that sadden And heart and mind ensnare! Thou art not lord and master Of thine own destiny; Enthroned in highest heaven, God rules in equity. 8. Leave all to His direction; In wisdom He doth reign, And in a way most wondrous His course He will maintain. Soon He, His promise keeping, With wonder-working skill, Shall put away the sorrows That now thy spirit fill. 9. A while His consolation He may to thee deny, And seem as though in trial He far from thee would fly; A while distress and anguish May compass thee around, Nor to thy supplication An answering voice be found. 10. But if thou perseverest, Thou shalt deliverance find. Behold, all unexpected He will thy soul unbind And from the heavy burden Thy heart will soon set free; And thou wilt see the blessing He had in mind for thee. 11. O faithful child of heaven, How blessed shalt thou be! With songs of glad thanksgiving A crown awaiteth thee. Into thy hand thy Maker Will give the victor's palm. And thou to thy Deliverer Shalt sing a joyous psalm. 12. Give, Lord, this consummation To all our heart's distress; Our hands, our feet, e'er strengthen, In death our spirits bless. Thy truth and Thy protection Grant evermore, we pray, And in celestial glory Shall end our destined way. __________________________________________________ Notes: Hymn #520 from The Handbook to The Lutheran Hymnal Text: Ps. 37: 5 Author: Paul Gerhardt, 1656 Translated by: composite Titled: Befiehl du deine Wege Composer: Hans L. Hassler, 1601 Tune: Herzlich tut mich ______________________________________________________________ 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: smithre@mail.ctsfw.edu Surface Mail: 6600 N. Clinton St.,Ft. Wayne, IN 46825 USA Phone: (260) 481-2123 Fax: (260) 481-2126 ______________________________________________________________ file: /pub/resources/text/wittenberg/hymns: commit.txt .