1. If thou but suffer God to guide thee
   And hope in Him through all thy ways,
   He’ll give thee strength, whate’er betide thee.
   And bear thee through the evil days.
   Who trusts in God’s unchanging love
   Builds on the Rock that naught can move.

2. What can these anxious cares avail thee,
   These never-ceasing moans and sighs?
   What can it help if thou bewail thee
   O’er each dark moment as it flies?
   Our cross and trials do but press
   The heavier for our bitterness.

3. Be patient and await His leisure
   In cheerful hope, with heart content
   To take whate’er thy Father’s pleasure
   And His discerning love hath sent,
   Nor doubt our inmost wants are known
   To Him Who chose us for His own.

4. God knows full well when times of gladness
   Shall be the needful thing for thee.
   When He has tried thy soul with sadness
   And from all guile has found thee free,
   He comes to thee all unaware
   And makes thee own His loving care.

5. Nor think amid the fiery trial
   That God hath cast thee off unheard,
   That He whose hopes meet no denial
   Must surely be of God preferred.
   Time passes and much change doth bring
   And sets a bound to everything.

6. All are alike before the Highest;
   ’Tis easy for our God, we know,
   To raise thee up, though low thou liest,
   To make the rich man poor and low.
   True wonders still by Him are wrought
   Who setteth up and brings to naught.

7. Sing, pray, and keep His ways unswerving,
   Perform thy duties faithfully,
   And trust His Word; though undeserving,
   Thou yet shalt find it true for thee.
   God never yet forsook in need
   The soul that trusted Him indeed.

Wer nur den lieben Gott läßt walten
Georg Neumark, 1640
Tr. Catherine Winkworth, 1863, alt.
Source: The Lutheran Hymnal, 1941, No. 518