"My Soul's Best Friend, What Joy and Blessing" by Wolfgang C. Dessler, 1660-1722 Text From: THE LUTHERAN HYMNAL (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1941) 1. My soul's best Friend, what joy and blessing My spirit ever finds in Thee! From gloomy depths of doubt distressing Into Thine arms for rest I flee. Then will the night of sorrow vanish When from my heart Thy love doth banish All anguish and all pain and fear. Yea, here on earth begins my heaven; Who would not joyful be when given A loving Savior always near! 2. For though the evil world revile me And prove herself my bitter foe Or by her smile seek to beguile me, I trust her not; her wiles I know. In Thee alone my soul rejoices, Thy praise alone it gladly voices, For Thou art true when friendships flee. The world may hate but cannot fell me; Would mighty waves of trial quell me, I anchor in Thy loyalty. 3. Through deserts of the cross Thou leadest; I follow, leaning on Thy hand. From out the cloud Thy child Thou feedest And givest water from the sand. I trust Thy ways, howe'er distressing; I know my path will end in blessing; Enough that Thou wilt be my Stay. For whom to honor Thou intendest Oft into sorrow's vale Thou sendest; The night must e'er precede the day. 4. My soul's best Friend, how well contented Am I, reposing on Thy breast; By sin no more am I tormented Since Thou dost grant me peace and rest. Oh, may the grace that Thou hast given For me a foretaste be of heaven, All anguish and all pain and fear. When I shall bask in joys divine! Away, vain world, with fleeting pleasures; In Christ I have abiding treasures. Oh, comfort sweet, my Friend is mine! ________________________________________________ Notes: Hymn #362 from _The Lutheran Hymnal_ Text: Song of Solomon 5:16 Author: Wolfgang C. Dessler, 1692, cento Translator: composite Tune: "Wie wohl ist mir" 1st Published in: _Geistreiches Gesangbuch_ Town: Halle, 1704 ______________________________________________________________________ This text was converted to ascii format for Project Wittenberg by Marilyn F. Gardner 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 Surface Mail: 6600 N. Clinton St., Ft. Wayne, IN 46825 USA Phone: (219) 452-2148 Fax: (219) 452-2126 ______________________________________________________________________