The Lutheran Hymnary ‎#527

527. Had God not come, may Israel say

1 Had God not come, may Israel say,
Had God not come to aid us,
Our enemies on that sad day
Would surely have dismayed us;
A remnant now, and handful small,
Held in contempt and scorn by all,
Who cruelly would oppress us.

2 Their furious wrath, did God permit,
Would quickly have consumed us,
And in the deep and yawning pit
With life and limb entombed us;
Like men o'er whom dark waters roll,
The streams had gone e'en o'er our soul,
And mightily o'erwhelmed us.

3 Thanks be to God, who from the pit
Snatched us, when it was gaping:
Our souls, like birds that break the net,
To the blue sky escaping;
The snare is broken--we are free!
The Lord our Helper praiséd be,
The God of earth and heaven.

Text Information

• First Line: Had God not come, may Israel say
• Author: M. Luther (1524)
• Meter: 8, 7, 8, 7, 8, 8, 7.
• Publication Date: 1913
• Topic: Various Occasions: Thanksgiving Day; Various Occassions: Reformation Day
• Notes: Public Domain.

Tune Information

• Name: [Had God not come, may Israel say]
• Composer: Joseph Klug (1535)
• Meter: 8, 7, 8, 7, 8, 8, 7.
• Key: G Major
• Source: Wittenberg
• Notes: Public Domain.