"O God, Thou Faithful God"
                 By Johann Heermann, 1585-1647
                                  Text From:
                       THE LUTHERAN HYMNAL
        (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1941)



        1. O God, Thou faithful God,
        Thou Fountain ever flowing,
        Who good and perfect gifts
        In mercy art bestowing,
        Give me a healthy frame,
        And may I have within
        A conscience free from blame,
        A soul unhurt by sin!

        2. Grant Thou me strength to do
        With ready heart and willing
        Whate'er Thou shalt command,
        My calling here fulfilling;
        To do it when I ought,
        With all my might, and bless
        The work I thus have wrought,
        For Thou must give success.

        3. Oh, let me never speak
        What bounds of truth exceedeth;
        Grant that no idle word
        From out my mouth proceedeth;
        And then, when in my place
        I must and ought to speak,
        My words grant power and grace
        Lest I offend the weak.

        4. If dangers gather round,
        Still keep me calm and fearless;
        Help me to bear the cross
        When life is dark and cheerless;
        And let me win my foe
        With words and actions kind.
        When counsel I would know,
        Good counsel let me find.

        5.And let me with all men,
        As far as in me lieth,
        In peace and friendship live.
        And if Thy gift supplieth
        Great wealth and honor fair,
        Then this refuse me not,
        That naught be mingled there
        Of goods unjustly got.

        6. If Thou a longer life
        Hast here on earth decreed me;
        If Thou through many ills
        To age at length wilt lead me,
        Thy patience on me shed.
        Avert all sin and shame
        And crown my hoary head
        With honor free from blame.

        7. Let me depart this life
        Confiding in my Savior;
        Do Thou my soul receive
        That it may live forever;
        And let my body have
        A quiet resting-place
        Within a Christian grave;
        And let it sleep in peace.

        8. And on that solemn Day
        When all the dead are waking,
        Stretch o'er my grave Thy hand,
        Thyself my slumbers breaking.
        Then let me hear Thy voice,
        Change Thou this earthly frame,
        And bid me aye rejoice
        With those who love Thy name.

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        Notes:
        Hymn #395 from _The Lutheran Hymnal_
        Text: 1 Kings 3: 5
        Author: Johann Heermann, 1630
        Translated by: Catherine Winkworth, 1858, alt.
        Titled: "O Gott, du frommer Gott"
        Tune: "O Gott, du frommer Gott"
        1st Published in: _Neuvermehrtes Gesangbuch_
        Town: Meniningen, 1693
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        This text was converted to ascii format for Project Wittenberg
        by Cindy A. Beesley and is in the public domain.  You may
        freely distribute, copy or print this text.  Please direct any
        comments or suggestions to: Rev. Robert E. Smith of the Walther
        Library at Concordia Theological Seminary.

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