If God Himself Be For Me
Words and music by Paul Gerhardt · tr. Richard Massie · 1656
Key of G · 130 BPM · 4/4 · Angels,Assurance,Atonement · Rom 8:31-39
Verse 1
If God Himself be for me, I may a host defy;
For when I pray, before me My foes, confounded, fly.
If Christ, my Head and Master, Befriend me from above,
What foe or what disaster Can drive me from His love?
Verse 2
This I believe, yea, rather, Of 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.
Verse 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 love are worth.
Verse 4
My Jesus is my Splendor, My Sun, my Light, alone;
Were He not my Defender Before God's awe-full throne,
I never should find favor And mercy in His sight,
But be destroyed forever As darkness by the light.
Verse 5
He canceled my offenses, Delivered me from death;
He is the Lord who cleanses My soul from sin through faith.
In Him I can be cheerful, Bold, and undaunted aye;
In Him I am not fearful Of God's great Judgment Day.
Public domain — free for any use, anywhere, forever.