Twofold, Father! is my pray'r

Representative Text

Twofold, Father! is my pray'r,
Twofold the desire I there
Lay before Thee, who dost give
What’s good for us to receive;
Grant the pray’r that Thou dost know,
Ere my soul to Thee must go
From the body’s bands below.

Grant that far from me may be
Lying and idolatry;
Poverty immoderate
Give me not, nor riches great;
Too great wealth or poverty
Is not good, for either may
’Neath the devil’s pow’r us lay.

Give to me, my Saviour! give
Modest portion while I live;
Evermore supply my need,
Giving me my daily bread;
Little, with contented mood,
And a conscience pure and good,
Is the best can be bestow’d.

If my cup should overflow,
Proud in spirit I might grow,
Thee deny with scornful word,
Asking who is God and Lord?
For the heart with pride doth swell,
Often knows not when ’tis well,
How itself enough t’ extol.

Should I bare and naked be,
Sunk in too deep poverty,
Faithless, I might wickedly
Steal my neighbour’s property;
Force might use and artifice,
Follow lawless practices,
Never ask what Christian is.

God! my Treasure and my Light,
Neither course for me were right,
Either would dishonour Thee,
Sink me into hell’s dark sea;
Therefore, give, Lord! graciously,
What Thy heart designs for me,
Moderate my portion be!

Paul Gerhardt’s Spiritual Songs, 1867

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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: J. Kelly

Kelly, John, was born at Newcastle-on-Tyne, educated at Glasgow University, studied theology at Bonn, New College, Edinburgh, and the Theological College of the English Presbyterian Church (to which body he belongs) in London. He has ministered to congregations at Hebburn-on-Tyne and Streatham, and was Tract Editor of the Religious Tract Society. His translations of Paul Gerhardt's Spiritual Songs were published in 1867. Every piece is given in full, and rendered in the metre of the originals. His Hymns of the Present Century from the German were published in 1886 by the Religious Tract Society. In these translations the metres of the originals have not always been followed, whilst some of the hymns have been abridged and others condens… Go to person page >

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Text Information

Text Information

First Line:	Twofold, Father! is my pray'r
German Title:	Zweierlei bitt ich von dir
Author:	Paul Gerhardt
Translator:	J. Kelly (1867)
Meter:	7.7.7.7.7.7.7
Language:	English
Publication Date:	1867
Copyright:	This text is in the public domain in the United States because it was published before 1929.