What Our Father Does Is Well - #571 - Schmolck

Benjamin Schmolck

"What Our Father Does Is Well"
by Benjamin Schmolck, 1672-1737
Translated by Henry W. Baker, 1821-1877

Tune - Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan - linked here

1. What our Father does is well:
Blessed truth His children tell!
Though He send, for plenty, want,
Though the harvest-store be scant,
Yet we rest upon His love,
Seeking better things above.

2. What our Father does is well,
Shall the wilful heart rebel
If a blessing He withhold
In the field or in the fold?
Is He not Himself to be
All our store eternally?

3. What our Father does is well,
Though He sadden hill and dell,
Upward yet our praises rise
For the strength His Word supplies.
He has called us sons of God;
Can we murmur at His rod?

4. What our Father does is well,
May the thought within us dwell!
Though no milk nor honey flow
In our barren Canaan now,
God can save us in our need,
God can bless us, God can feed.

5. Therefore unto Him we raise
Hymns of glory, songs of praise,
To the Father and the Son
And the Spirit, Three in One,
Honor, might, and glory be
Now and through eternity.

Hymn #571
The Lutheran Hymnal
Text: Habakkuk 3: 17, 18
Author: Benjamin Schmolck, 1720, cento
Translated by: Henry W. Baker, 1861
Titled: "Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan"
Tune: "Ratisbon"
1st Published in: Saechsisches Choralbuch
Town: Leipzig, 1815

Open Now Thy Gates of Beauty - #1 - Winkworth Translation - Schmolck

"Open Now Thy Gates of Beauty"

by Benjamin Schmolck, 1672-1737

Translated by Catherine Winkworth, 1829-1878

Tune - Neander - linked here

1. Open now Thy gates of beauty,
Zion, let me enter there,
Where my soul in joyful duty
Waits for Him who answers prayer.
Oh, how blessed is this place,
Filled with solace, light, and grace!

2. Lord, my God, I come before Thee,
Come Thou also unto me;
Where we find Thee and adore Thee,
There a heaven on earth must be.
To my heart, oh, enter Thou,
Let it be Thy temple now!

3. Here Thy praise is gladly chanted,
Here Thy seed is duly sown;
Let my soul, where it is planted,
Bring forth precious sheaves alone,
So that all I hear may be
Fruitful unto life in me.

4. Thou my faith increase and quicken,
Let me keep Thy gift divine,
Howsoe'er temptations thicken;
May Thy Word still o'er me shine
As my guiding star through life,
As my comfort in my strife.

5. Speak, O God, and I will hear Thee,
Let Thy will be done indeed;
May I undisturbed draw near Thee
While Thou dost Thy people feed.
Here of life the fountain flows,
Here is balm for all our woes.

The Lutheran Hymnal
Hymn #1
Text: Psalm 100:4
Author: Benjamin Schmolck, 1732, cento
Translated by: Catherine Winkworth, 1863, alt.
Titled: "Tut mir auf die schoene Pforte"
Composer: Joachim Neander, 1680
Tune: "Neander"

 Benjamin Schmolck was a German Lutheran pastor.