1. I will sing my Maker’s praises
   And in Him most joyful be,
   For in all things I see traces
   Of His tender love to me.
   Nothing else than love could move Him
   With such sweet and tender care
   Evermore to raise and bear
   All who try to serve and love Him.
   All things else have but their day,
   God’s great love abides for aye.

2. As an eagle spreadeth over
   Her young brood her shelt’ring wings,
   So the arm of God did cover
   Me against affliction’s stings.
   He who life and being gave me,
   Even in my mother’s womb,
   From the cradle to the tomb
   He shall ever guard and save me.
   All things else have but their day,
   God’s great love abides for aye.

3. Yea, so dear did He esteem me
   That His Son He loved so well
   He hath given to redeem me
   From the quenchless flames of hell.
   O Thou Spring of boundless blessing,
   How could e’er my feeble mind
   Of Thy depth the bottom find
   Though my efforts were unceasing?
   All things else have but their day,
   God’s great love abides for aye.

4. God His Spirit to instruct me
   In His holy Word hath giv’n,
   That He safely may conduct me
   Through this weary world to heav’n.
   He my heart’s dark chamber filleth
   With the clear pure light of faith,
   Which destroys the pow’r of death,
   Yea, e’en hell itself it stilleth.
   All things else have but their day,
   God’s great love abides for aye.

5. All that for my soul is needful
   He with loving care provides,
   Nor of that is He unheedful
   Which my body needs besides.
   When my strength cannot avail me,
   When my pow’rs can do no more,
   Doth my God His strength outpour;
   In my need He doth not fail me.
   All things else have but their day,
   God’s great love abides for aye.

6. All the hosts of earth and heaven,
   Wheresoe’er I turn mine eye,
   For my benefit are given,
   That they may my need supply.
   All that’s living, all that’s growing,
   On the heights or in the woods,
   In the vales or in the floods,
   God is for my good bestowing.
   All things else have but their day,
   God’s great love abides for aye.

7. When I sleep, He still is near me,
   O’er me rests His guardian eye;
   And new gifts and blessings cheer me
   When the morning streaks the sky.
   Were it not for God’s protection,
   Had His countenance not been
   Here my guide, I had not seen
   E’er the end of my affliction.
   All things else have but their day,
   God’s great love abides for aye.

8. Ah! how often doth the devil
   Cause some great calamity!
   But my life from all such evil
   Till this moment has been free.
   For the angel whom God sendeth
   Wardeth off each threat’ning hurt,
   Ev’ry evil doth avert
   That mine enemy intendeth.
   All things else have but their day,
   God’s great love abides for aye.

9. As a father never turneth
   Wholly from a wayward child,
   For the prodigal still yearneth,
   Longing to be reconciled,
   So my many sins and errors
   Find a tender, pard’ning God,
   Chast’ning frailty with His rod,
   Not, in vengeance, with His terrors.
   All things else have but their day,
   God’s great love abides for aye.

10. All His strokes and scourges truly
    For the moment grievous prove,
    And yet, when I weigh them duly,
    Are but tokens of His love:
    Proofs that He is watching o’er me,
    And by crosses to His fold,
    From the world that fain would hold
    Soul and body, would restore me.
    All things else have but their day,
    God’s great love abides for aye.

11. On this thought I dwell with pleasure;
    For it granteth joy and peace.
    Christ’s cross hath its time and measure,
    And at last will wholly cease.
    When the winter disappeareth,
    Lovely summer comes again;
    Joy is giv’n for woe and pain
    Who His cross in patience beareth.
    All things else have but their day,
    God’s great love abides for aye.

12. Since, then, neither change nor coldness
    In my Father’s love can be,
    Lo! I lift my hands with boldness,
    As Thy child I come to Thee.
    Grant me grace, O God, I pray Thee,
    That I may with all my might,
    All my lifetime, day and night,
    Love and trust Thee and obey Thee
    And when I’ve had but my day,
    Praise and love my God for aye.

Sollt ich meinem Gott nicht singen
Paul Gerhardt, 1659
Tr. composite
Source: Sts. 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12, The Lutheran Hymnal, 1941, No. 25
Sts. 2, 4, 6, 8, 10–11, Evangelical Lutheran Hymn-Book, 1930, No. 65