Now Let Us Come Before Him - #122 - Gerhardt

"Now Let Us Come Before Him"
by Paul Gerhardt, 1607-1676

1. Now let us come before Him,
With song and prayer adore Him,
Who to our life hath given
All needed strength from heaven.
2. The stream of years is flowing,
And we are onward going,
From old to new surviving
And by His mercy thriving.

3. In woe we often languish
And pass through times of anguish,
Of wars and trepidation
Alarming every nation.

4. As mothers watch are keeping
O'er children who are sleeping,
Their fear and grief assuaging
When angry storms are raging.

5. So God His own is shielding
And help to them is yielding.
When need and woe distress them,
His loving arms caress them.

6. O Thou who dost not slumber,
Remove what would encumber
Our work, which prospers never
Unless Thou bless it ever.

7. O God of Mercy, hear us;
Our Father, be Thou near us;
Mid crosses and in sadness
Be Thou our Fount of gladness.

8. To all who bow before Thee
And for Thy grace implore Thee,
Oh, grant Thy benediction
And patience in affliction.

9. Be Thou a Helper speedy
To all the poor and needy,
To all forlorn a Father;
Thy erring children gather.

10. Be with the sick and ailing,
Their Comforter unfailing;
Dispelling grief and sadness,
Oh, give them joy and gladness!

11. Above all else, Lord, send us
Thy Spirit to attend us,
Within our hearts abiding,
To heaven our footsteps guiding.

12. All this Thy hand bestoweth,
Thou Life, whence our life floweth.
To all Thy name confessing
Grant, Lord, Thy New Year's blessing.

The Lutheran Hymnal
Hymn #122
Text: Ps. 91:1
Author: Paul Gerhardt
Translated by: John Kelly, 1867, alt.
Titled: Nun lasst uns gehn und treten
Tune: Nun lasst uns Gott, dem Herren
1st Published in: "Christliche Psalmen"
Town: Leipzig, 1587