My God, I leave to Thee my ways

Representative Text

1 My God, I leave to Thee my ways;
I hope in Thee whate'er betide,
To find Thee in the evil days
My all-sufficient Strength and Guide;
Who trust in God's unchanging Love
Builds on the Rock that naught can move.

2 What can our anxious cares avail,
Our never-ceasing moans and sighs?
What can it help us to bewail
Each painful moment as it flies?
Our cross and trials do but press
The heavier for our bitterness.

3 Help me my restless heart to still,
And wait in cheerful hope, content
To take whate'er Thy gracious Will,
Thy all-discerning Love, hath sent;
Nor doubt my inmost wants are known
To Him who chose me for His own.

4 Thou know'st when joyful hours are best,
And send'st them as Thou seest it meet:
When I have borne the fiery test,
And am made free from all deceit,
Thou comest to me all unaware,
And makest me own Thy loving care.

5 Help me to swerve not from Thy ways,
But do my own part faithfully,
And trust Thy promises of grace,
That they may be fulfilled in me.
Thou never wilt forsake at need
The soul that trusts in Thee indeed.

Source: Church Book: for the use of Evangelical Lutheran congregations #431

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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 >

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:	My God, I leave to Thee my ways
German Title:	Wer nur den lieben Gott lässt walten
Translator:	Catherine Winkworth (1855)
Author:	Georg Neumark (1653)
Language:	English
Copyright:	Public Domain

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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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Arrangements

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