Jesus shall our watchword be

Top Text Translator Author Text Info Tune Timeline Page Scans Instances

Jesus shall our watchword be

Translator: James Drummond Burns; Author: Benjamin Schmolck
Tune: MEINEN JESUM LASS ICH NICHT (Hammerschmidt)
Published in 8 hymnals

Representative Text

1 Jesus! shall our watchword be,
As the New Year's dawn spreads o'er us;
Jesus' Name alone will we
As our standard bear before us;
In His cov'nant grace we stand,
Journeying to the promised land.

2 Jesus' Name and Jesus' Word
Shall resound in fullest measure
In our churches, and be heard.
May we tread His courts with pleasure,
That our hearts, through grace anew,
Prove a holy temple too.

3 Thus our pathways would we tread,
And in Jesus' Name confide us;
While this Star guides over head,
Nothing evil can betide us;
In its light of grace and love
Blessings come from heaven above.

4 Jesus' Name shall lighten pain,
And in all our ills relieve us;
Losses thus shall turn to gain,
And to blessings what seemed grievous;
Jesus' Name is Sun and Shield,
Here must all our sorrows yield.

Source: Evangelical Lutheran hymnal: with music #43

All representative texts • Compare texts ^ top

Translator: James Drummond Burns

Burns, James Drummond, M.A., was born at Edinburgh, February 18, 1823. He studied and graduated M.A. at the University of Edinburgh. In 1845 he became Free Church minister of Dunblane, but resigned through failing health, in 1848, and took charge of the Presbyterian Church at Funchal, Madeira. In 1855 he became minister of Hampstead Presbyterian Church, London. Died at Mentone, Nov. 27, 1864, and was buried in Highgate Cemetery, London. His hymns appeared in:— (l) The Vision of Prophecy: and other Poems (Edin., Edmonston and Douglas). This was originally published in 1854, and enlarged in 1858. The Poems are distinguished by vivid colouring and poetic imagination, along with directness, delicacy of execution, pensive sweetness, and t… Go to person page >

Author: Benjamin Schmolck

Schmolck, Benjamin, son of Martin Schmolck, or Schmolcke, Lutheran pastor at Brauchitschdorf (now Chrόstnik) near Liegnitz in Silesia (now Poland) was born at Brauchitschdorf, Dec. 21, 1672. He entered the Gymnasium at Lauban in 1688, and spent five years there. After his return home he preached for his father a sermon which so struck the patron of the living that he made Benjamin an allowance for three years to enable him to study theology. He matriculated, at Michaelmas, 1693, at the University of Leipzig, where he came under the influence of J. Olearius, J. B. Carpzov, and others, and throughout his life retained the character of their teaching, viz. a warm and living practical Christianity, but Churchly in tone and not Pietistic. In th… Go to person page >

^ top

Text Information

Text Information

First Line:	Jesus shall our watchword be
German Title:	Jesus soll die Losung sein
Author:	Benjamin Schmolck
Translator:	James Drummond Burns
Language:	English
Copyright:	Public Domain