"I Will Sing My Maker's Praises" by Paul Gerhardt, 1607-1676 Text From: The Handbook to The Lutheran Hymnal (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1942), pp. 23-24 1. I will sing my Maker's praises And in Him most joyful be, For in all things I see traces Of His tender love to me. Nothing else than love could move Him With such sweet and tender care Evermore to raise and bear All who try to serve and love Him. All things else have but their day, God's great love abides for aye. 2. Yea, so dear did He esteem me That His Son He loved so well He hath given to redeem me From the quenchless flames of hell. Thou Spring of boundless blessing, How could e'er my feeble mind Of Thy depth the bottom find Though my efforts were unceasing? All things else have but their day, God's great love abides for aye. 3. All that for my soul is needful He with loving care provides, Nor of that is He unheedful Which my body needs besides. When my strength cannot avail me, When my powers can do no more, Doth my God His strength outpour; In my need He doth not fail me. All things else have but their day, God's great love abides for aye. 4. When I sleep, He still is near me, O'er me rests His guardian eye; And new gifts and blessings cheer me When the morning streaks the sky. Were it not for God's protection, Had His countenance not been Here my guide, I had not seen E'er the end of my affliction. All things else have but their day, God's great love abides for aye. 5. As a father never turneth Wholly from a wayward child, For the prodigal still yearneth, Longing to be reconciled, So my many sins and errors Find a tender, pardoning God, Chastening frailty with His rod, Not in vengeance, with His terrors. All things else have but their day, God's great love abides for aye. 6. Since, then, neither change nor coldness In my Father's love can be, Lo! I lift my hands with boldness, As Thy child I come to Thee. Grant me grace, O God, I pray Thee, That I may with all my might, All my lifetime, day and night, Love and trust Thee and obey Thee And, when this brief life is o'er, Praise and love Thee evermore. ___________________________________________ Notes: Text: Eph. 5:19, 20 Author: Paul Gerhardt, 1659, cento Translated by: composite Titled: Sollt' ich meinem Gott nicht singen Composer: Johann Schop, 1641 Tune: Sollt' ich meinem Gott ______________________________________________________________ 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: robert.smith@ctsfw.edu Surface Mail: 6600 N. Clinton St., Ft. Wayne, IN 46825 USA Phone: (260) 452-3149 Fax: (260) 452-2126 _______________________________________________________________