I know, my God, and I rejoice

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I know, my God, and I rejoice

Author: Paul Gerhardt (1656); Translator: Catherine Winkworth (1863)
Tune: [Ich bin ja, Herr, in deiner Macht]
Published in 2 hymnals

Representative Text

I know, my God, and I rejoice
That on Thy righteous will and choice
All human works and schemes must rest;
Success and blessing are of Thee,
What Thou shalt send is surely best!

It stands not in the power of man
To bring to pass the wisest plan
So surely that it cannot fail;
Thy counsel, Highest, must ensure
That our poor wisdom shall avail.

A man oft thinks within his breast
That lot for him were surely best,
This, that his Father may ordain,
Were hurtful;--yet, behold, it proves
This is his blessing, that his bane.

Then, O my Father, hear my cry,
Grant me true judgment from on high,
On my own will I would not build;
Be Thou my Friend and Counsellor,
So what is best shall be fulfilled.

And if this work be Thine, oh bless
Our poor weak efforts with success;
If not, deny it, change our mind,--
Whate'er Thou workest not will soon
Disperse like sand before the wind.

Grant us what is our truest good,
And not what pleases flesh and blood;
Our inmost spirits do Thou prove,
Our highest aim, our best delight,
Shall be Thy glory and Thy love.

Source: Chorale Book for England, The #121

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Author: Paul Gerhardt

Paul Gerhardt (b. Gräfenheinichen, Saxony, Germany, 1607; d. Lubben, Germany, 1676), famous author of Lutheran evangelical hymns, studied theology and hymnody at the University of Wittenberg and then was a tutor in Berlin, where he became friends with Johann Crüger. He served the Lutheran parish of Mittenwalde near Berlin (1651-1657) and the great St. Nicholas' Church in Berlin (1657-1666). Friederich William, the Calvinist elector, had issued an edict that forbade the various Protestant groups to fight each other. Although Gerhardt did not want strife between the churches, he refused to comply with the edict because he thought it opposed the Lutheran "Formula of Concord," which condemned some Calvinist doctrines. Consequently, he was r… Go to person page >

Translator: Catherine Winkworth

Catherine Winkworth (b. Holborn, London, England, 1827; d. Monnetier, Savoy, France, 1878) is well known for her English translations of German hymns; her translations were polished and yet remained close to the original. Educated initially by her mother, she lived with relatives in Dresden, Germany, in 1845, where she acquired her knowledge of German and interest in German hymnody. After residing near Manchester until 1862, she moved to Clifton, near Bristol. A pioneer in promoting women's rights, Winkworth put much of her energy into the encouragement of higher education for women. She translated a large number of German hymn texts from hymnals owned by a friend, Baron Bunsen. Though often altered, these translations continue to be used i… Go to person page >

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Text Information

Text Information

First Line:	I know, my God, and I rejoice
German Title:	Ich weiss, mein Gott, dass all mein Thun
Author:	Paul Gerhardt (1656)
Translator:	Catherine Winkworth (1863)
Language:	English
Copyright:	Public Domain