What Pleaseth God!

What pleaseth God, my faithful child,
Receive with joy; although the wild
And wintry wind thy heart appal,
Have faith, thee only can befal
What pleaseth God!

The will of God is aye the best,
In it we can so calmly rest;
Thyself to it anew resign,
And only seek to have as thine
What pleaseth God!

God’s counsel is the only wise;
Soon comes to nought what men devise;
Their projects fall, fall out of use,
Oft mischief work, not oft produce
What pleaseth God!

God’s mood is the most gracious mood,
To all intending, doing good;
He blesses, though hard words may speak
The wicked world, and never seek
What pleaseth God!

The truest heart is God’s own heart,
Who bids our misery depart;
Who screens and shelters, day and night,
The man who makes his chief delight
What pleaseth God!

Ah! could I sing, as sing I would,
From out my heart, and ever should,
I’d ope my mouth—in Him rejoice,
This moment praise with heart and voice
What pleaseth God!

His counsel wise would I make known,
The works of wonder He hath done;
His saving grace, eternal pow’r,
That work producing every hour
What pleaseth God.

He rules above and rules below;
On Him hangs all our weal and woe;
He bears the world in His high hand,
For us brings forth the sea and land
What pleaseth God!

His hands the elements restrain;
His hands our mortal life sustain—
Give summer, winter, day, and night,
That evermore to do delight
What pleaseth God!

His host, the stars, the moon, and sun,
Their wonted courses ever run;
Corn, oil, and must, bread, wine, and beer,
The fruitful earth brings forth each year,
Which pleaseth God!

His understanding is all wise,
He knows—they are before his eyes,
Who evil think and evil do,
As well as who the good pursue
That pleaseth God!

His little flock to Him is dear;
When sinning they forsake His fear,
He chastens with His Father’s rod,
Till they return and do the good
That pleaseth God!

What cheers and strengtheneth our heart
He knows, and ever doth impart
Whatever good each one requires,
Who seeks for good and aye desires
What pleaseth God!

Is’t so? then let the world retain
What pleaseth her, and she deems gain;
But thou in God delighted be,
My heart! approve whate’er you see
That pleaseth God!

Let others then in haughty mood
Rejoice in stores of earthly good;
But thou the Cross with patience bear,
Contented if thou hast the share
That pleaseth God!

Dost live in sorrow, sunk in grief,
Hast much affliction—no relief?
Still murmur not, for thou dost bear
In this thy bitter life of care
What pleaseth God!

In suff’rings art thou doom’d to live?
Then to thy great Protector cleave;
The world and all the creatures too
Are under God, can only do
What pleaseth God!

Doth ev’ry one despise Thy name?
Do foes Thee scorn and treat with shame?
Be not cast down, for Christ will raise
Thy head, who seeth in thy ways
What pleaseth God!

Faith fastens on the Saviour’s love
Works patience, hope that looks above;
Lock both within thy secret heart,
Thou’lt have as thine eternal part
What pleaseth God!

Thy part is in the Heav’nly throne,
There is thy sceptre, kingdom, crown;
There shalt thou taste, and hear, and see,
There shall for ever happen thee
What pleaseth God!

Paul Gerhardt’s Spiritual Songs, 1867