1. By grace I’m saved, grace free and boundless!
   My soul, believe and doubt it not.
   Why stagger at this word of promise?
   Hath Scripture ever falsehood taught?
   Nay; then this word must true remain:
   By grace thou, too, shalt heav’n obtain.

2. By grace! None dare lay claim to merit;
   Our works and conduct have no worth.
   God in His love sent our Redeemer,
   Christ Jesus, to this sinful earth;
   His death did for our sins atone,
   And we are saved by grace alone.

3. By grace! Oh, mark this word of promise
   When thou art by thy sins opprest,
   When Satan plagues thy troubled conscience,
   And when thy heart is seeking rest.
   What reason cannot comprehend
   God by His grace to thee doth send.

4. By grace God’s Son, our only Savior,
   Came down to earth to bear our sin.
   Was it because of thine own merit
   That Jesus died thy soul to win?
   Nay, it was grace, and grace alone,
   That brought Him from His heav’nly throne.

5. By grace! This ground of faith is certain;
   So long as God is true, it stands.
   What saints have penned by inspiration,
   What in His Word our God commands,
   What our whole faith must rest upon,
   Is grace alone, grace in His Son.

6. By grace! But think not, thou who livest
   Securely on in godless ways,
   That thou—though all are called—receivest
   The promised rest that wakes our praise.
   By grace none find in heav’n a place
   Who live in sin in hope of grace.

7. By grace! They who have heard the sentence
   Must all hypocrisy forego;
   For only after deep repentance
   Can any soul this treasure know;
   To sin free grace a trifle seems,
   To faith it bright with glory beams.

8. By grace to timid hearts that tremble,
   In tribulation’s furnace tried—
   By grace, despite all fear and trouble,
   The Father’s heart is open wide.
   Where could I help and strength secure
   If grace were not my anchor sure?

9. By grace! On this I’ll rest when dying;
   In Jesus’ promise I rejoice;
   For though I know my heart’s condition,
   I also know my Savior’s voice.
   My heart is glad, all grief has flown,
   Since I am saved by grace alone.

10. By grace! May sin and Satan hearken!
    I bear my flag of faith in hand
    And pass—for doubts my joy can’t darken—
    The Red Sea to the Promised Land.
    I cling to what my Savior taught
    And trust it, whether felt or not.

Aus Gnaden soll ich selig werden
Christian L. Scheidt, 1742
Tr. composite
Source: Sts. 1–5, 8–9, The Lutheran Hymnal, 1941, No. 373
Sts. 6–7, 10, Evangelical Lutheran Hymn-Book, 1927, No. 311