Paul Gerhardt's Spiritual Songs ‎#51

51. Shall I not my God be praising

Shall I not my God be praising,
And in Him not joyful be?
For in all His works amazing,
See I not His care for me?
Is it not pure love that filleth,
And His faithful heart o’erflows,
When He ever cares for those,
Who do only what He willeth?
All things run their course below,
God’s love doth for ever flow.

As its brood the eagle over,
Ever more its wings doth spread.
So the Highest aye doth cover
With His arms of pow’r my head.
In the womb e’en of my mother,
When to me He being gave,
E’en the life that now I have,
Was He then my shield and cover.
All things run their course below,
God’s love doth for ever flow.

Not too great a gift He even
Deem’d His only Son to be;
Him to death hath freely given,
Me from fear of hell to free.
Oh! 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 run their course below,
God’s love doth for ever flow.

And the Holy Ghost to guide me,
Noble Leader! He hath giv’n,
That He through the world may lead me,
Onward to the gate of heav’n.
That my heart He may be filling
With th’ unclouded light of faith,
That can break the pow’r of death,
And hell’s rage hath pow’r of stilling.
All things run their course below,
God’s love doth for ever flow.

For my soul’s well-being ever
Full provision doth He make,
And in ev’ry need deliver,
For the body care doth take.
When my pow’r, my best endeavour
Cometh to extremity,
Then my God appears to me,
With His might comes to deliver.
All things run their course below,
God’s love doth for ever flow.

All the things in earth and heaven,
E’en where’er I turn my eye,
For my benefit are given,
That they may my need supply.
All that’s living, all that’s growing,
On the hills or in the woods,
In the vales or ’neath the floods,
God is for my good bestowing.
All things run their course below,
God’s love doth for ever flow.

When I sleep, His eye is waking,
When I wake, He strength’neth me,
Each new morn fresh courage taking,
I new love and goodness see.
Had my God existed never,
Had His face not guided me,
From such ills so frequently,
None could have deliver’d ever.
All things run their course below,
God’s love doth for ever flow.

’Gainst me many is the weapon,
Forg’d by Satan’s enmity,
But no real hurt can happen,
None hath yet befallen me.
God’s own angel whom He sendeth,
Wardeth off each deadly blow
Aim’d by the untiring foe,
Who our ruin thus intendeth.
All things run their course below,
God’s love doth for ever flow.

As a father ne’er withdraweth
From his child his love away,
Though he often evil doeth,
And from wisdom’s paths doth stray.
So God’s heart towards me moveth,
All my sins forgiveth He,
Not in vengeance smiteth me,
As a Father He reproveth.
All things run their course below,
God’s love doth for ever flow.

Ev’ry blow His hand inflicteth,
Though the heart with pain it rend,
When my heart aright reflecteth,
Is a token that my Friend
Thinks on me, and tow’rds me yearneth,
Me from this ill world would free,
That has so entangled me,
By the cross to Him me turneth.
All things run their course below,
God’s love doth for ever flow.

This I know full well, and never
Let it from my mind depart,
Christ’s cross hath its limit ever,
And at length must cease to smart.
When the winter snows are over
Lovely summer will appear,
Who can hope, from ev’ry fear,
And from pain, shall they recover.
All things run their course below,
God’s love doth for ever flow.

In God’s love there is no ending,
Ne’er a limit find I there,
So my hands to Thee extending,
As Thy child, I raise my pray’r.
Father! deign Thy grace to give me,
That I may with all my might
Thee embrace both day and night,
All my life may never leave thee,
And when life is o’er with me,
Love and praise eternally.

Text Information

• First Line: Shall I not my God be praising
• Title: Shall I not my God be praising
• German Title: Soll ich meinem Gott nicht singen
• Author: Paul Gerhardt
• Translator: John Kelly (1867)
• Meter: 8,7,8,7,8,7,7,8,7,7
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1867

Tune Information

(No tune information)