272 If God Himself be for me,

1 If God Himself be for me, I may a host defy, For when I pray, before me My foes confounded fly: If Christ, the Head, befriend me, If God be my support, The mischief they intend me Shall quickly come to naught. 2 This I believe, yea, rather; In this I make my boast, That God is my dear Father, The friend who loves me most; And that, whate'er betide me, My Savior is at hand, Through stormy seas to guide me, And bring me safe to land. 3 I build on this foundation, That Jesus and His blood Alone are my salvation, The true eternal good; Without Him, all that pleases Is valueless on earth: The gifts I owe to Jesus Alone my highest worth. 4 His Holy Spirit dwelleth Within my willing heart, Tames it when it rebelleth, And soothes the keenest smart: He crowns His work with blessing, And helpeth me to cry "My Father!" without ceasing, To Him who dwells on high. 5 And when my soul is lying Weak, trembling, and oppressed, He pleads with groans and sighing That cannot be expressed; But God's quick eye discerns them Although they give no sound, And into language turns them, E'en in the heart's deep ground. 6 To mine His Spirit speaketh Sweet words of soothing power, How God to him that seeketh For rest, hath rest in store: There God Himself prepareth My heritage and lot, And though my body wearieth, My heaven shall fail me not. 7 Who clings with resolution To Him whom Satan hates, Must look for persecution Which never here abates; Reproaches, griefs and losses Rain fast upon his head, A thousand plagues and crosses Become his daily bread. 8 All this I am prepared for, Yet am I not afraid; By Thee shall all be cared for, To whom my vows were paid: Though life and limb it cost me, And all the earthly store Which once so much engrossed me, I've lost all the more. 9 Not fire, nor sword, nor thunder, Shall sever me from Thee; Though earth be rent asunder Thou'rt mine eternally: Not hunger, thirst, nor danger, Not pain, nor pinching want, Nor mighty princes' anger, My fearless soul shall daunt. 10 No angel, and no gladness, No throne, no pomp, nor show, No love, no hate, no sadness, No pain, no death of woe, No scheme of man's contrivance, Should it be great or small, Shall draw me from Thy guidance, Not one of these, nor all! 11 My merry heart is springing, And knows not how to pine; 'Tis full of joy and singing, And radiancy divine; The sun whose smiles so cheer me Is Jesus Christ alone: To have Him always near me Is heaven itself begun.