He that confides in his Creator

Representative Text

I. He that confides in his Creator,
Depending on him all his Days,
Shall be preserv'd in Fire and Waer,
And sav'd in Grief a Thousand Ways.
He that makes God his Stand and Stay,
Builds not on Sand that glides away.

II. What gain'st thou by thy Cark and Caring?
What is it for thou pin'st away?
Thy Rest and Health thou art impairing,
By Sighs and Groans from Day to Day.
Thou art but adding Grief to Grief,
Instead of getting sure Relief.

III. Wou'd we but be a little quiet,
And rest in God's good Providence,
Who thus prescribes us wholesome Diet
By Methods cross to Flesh and Sense;
We might obtain. For surely he
Knows best what's good for thee and me.

IV. He knows the Hours of Joy and Gladness,
As well as proper Time and Place;
Are we but faithful in our Sadness,
Seek not our selves, but seek his Praise:
He'll come before we are aware,
And dissipate our greatest Care.

V. Don't hearken to thy giddy Reason,
As if God had forsaken thee,
And think him happy who, this Season,
Is glitt'ring in Prosperity.
To Morrow, Spite of all his Brags,
May see Thee rich, and Him in Rags.

VI. God can, this Hour, with ev'ry Dainty
The poor Man's Table nobly spread;
And strip the Rich of all his Plenty,
And send him out to beg his Bread.
He, when he pleases, turns the Scale.
By Him alone, we rise or fall.

VII. Do Thou, with Faith, observe thy Station;
Keep God's Commands, and sing his Praise,
Rely on him for Preservation,
On whom the whole Creation stays.
The Man that's truly wise and just
Makes God and God alone his Trust.

Repeat:
The Man that's truly wise and just
Makes God and God alone his Trust.

Source: Psalmodia Germanica: or, The German Psalmody: translated from the high Dutch together with their proper tunes and thorough bass (2nd ed., corr. and enl.) #61

Translator: Johann Christian Jacobi

Jacobi, John Christian, a native of Germany, was born in 1670, and appointed Keeper of the Royal German Chapel, St. James's Palace, London, about 1708. He held that post for 42 years, and died Dec. 14, 1750. He was buried in the Church of St. Paul's, Covent Garden. His publications included :— (1) A Collection of Divine Hymns, Translated from the High Dutch. Together with their Proper Tunes and Thorough Bass. London: Printed and Sold by J. Young, in St. Paul’s Churchyard; . . . 1720. This edition contains 15 hymns. Two years later this collection, with a few changes in the text and much enlarged, was republished as (2) Psalmodia Germanica; or a Specimen of Divine Hymns. Translated from the High Dutch. Together with their Proper Tunes… Go to person page >

Author: Georg Neumark

Georg Neumark (b. Langensalza, Thuringia, Germany, 1621; d. Weimar, Germany, 1681) lived during the time of the Thirty Years' War, when social and economic conditions were deplorable. He had personal trials as well. On his way to Königsberg to study at the university, traveling in the comparative safety of a group of merchants, he was robbed of nearly all his possessions. During the next two years he spent much of his time looking for employment. He finally secured a tutoring position in Kiel. When he had saved enough money, he returned to the University of Königsberg and studied there for five years. In Königsberg he again lost all his belongings, this time in a fire. Despite his personal suffering Neumark wrote many hymns in which he e… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: He that confides in his Creator
German Title: Wer nur den lieben Gott läst walten
Author: Georg Neumark
Translator: Johann Christian Jacobi
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Tune

NEUMARK

Published in 1657 (see above) WER NUR DEN LIEBEN GOTT is also known as NEUMARK. Johann S. Bach (PHH 7) used the tune in its isorhythmic shape (all equal rhythms) in his cantatas 21, 27, 84, 88, 93, 166, 179, and 197. Many Lutheran composers have also written organ preludes on this tune. WER NUR DEN…

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Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 10 of 10)
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A Hymn and Prayer-Book #63

Die Union Choral Harmonie #d68

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Offices of Worship and Hymns #695

TextAudioPage Scan

Psalmodia Germanica #61

Page Scan

The Liturgy and Hymns of the American Province of the Unitas Fratrum #25

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