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 ev’ry 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. Our song to Thee ascendeth,
   Whose mercy never endeth;
   Our thanks to Thee we render,
   Who art our strong Defender.

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

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

10. With richest blessings crown us,
    In all our ways, Lord, own us;
    Give grace, who grace bestowest
    To all, e’en to the lowest.

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

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

13. Above all else, Lord, send us
    Thy Spirit to attend us,
    Within our hearts abiding,
    To heav’n our footsteps guiding.

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

Nun lasst uns gehn und treten
Paul Gerhardt, 1653
Tr. John Kelly, 1867, alt.
Source: Sts. 1–6, 8–9, 11–14, The Lutheran Hymnal, 1941, No. 122
Sts. 7, 10, Evangelical Lutheran Hymn-Book, 1930, No. 174