1 The myst'ry hidden from the eyes
Of learned men and sages,
God hath revealed us from the skies,
In Scripture's holy pages,
That He alone is King above
All other gods whatever,
Great, mighty, faithful, full of love,
His people's Shield and Savior;
One Essence, but three Persons.
2 As Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
The righteous seed adore Him;
So named, so praised, He is the boast
Of all who bow before Him;
He's Abraham's and Isaac's God,
And Jacob's whom He knoweth,
The Lord of hosts, who ev'ry good,
Both night and day, bestoweth;
Who only worketh wonders.
3 The Father hath the Son begot,
Firstborn of ev'ry creature;
The Son took our weak flesh, but not
Our sinfulness of nature;
Both from the Father and the Son
Thy Holy Ghost proceedeth
From all eternity; yet none
In might and pow'r exceedeth;
All equal, co-eternal.
4 Be glad, my heart, thy Portion see,
Thy priceless Pearl and Treasure!
He is thy Friend, supply will He
Thy needs with bounteous measure;
He made thee in His image blest,
Was for thy pardon smitten,
With true faith fills thee, through His grace
Doth all thy crosses sweeten
With His dear Word of promise.
5 Rise, then, to Him the Ever-blest,
And learn to know Him rightly;
Such knowledge can alone bring rest,
And make thy soul burn brightly
With the pure flame of holy love,
Which cheers thy course to heaven;
For God will show thee things above,
Which here 'tis only given
To hear of, and see darkly.
6 O Prince of Might! Thy mercy show,
Thou God of earth and heaven;
To ev'ry sinner here below
Thy saving grace be given!
Bring back Thy sheep that go astray,
And sinful eyes enlighten,
And turn Thou everything away
That wickedly might frighten
Thine own, whose faith is feeble.
7 Grant this, that we, Thy people, may
All reach the heav'nly portals,
And in Thy kingdom sing for aye
'Mid all the blest immortals:
That Thou, O Lord, art King alone,
Above all gods whatever,
The Father, Son, and Spirit, One,
Thy people's Shield and Savior,
One Essence, but three Persons!
Source: Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary #405
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 >
My Starred Hymns
My FlexScores
My Hymnals
My Purchased Files