1. If God Himself be for me,
   I may a host defy;
   For when I pray, before me
   My foes, confounded, fly.
   If Christ, my Head and Master,
   Befriend me from above,
   What foe or what disaster
   Can drive me from His love?

2. This I believe, yea, rather,
   Of this I make my boast,
   That God is my dear Father,
   The Friend who loves me most,
   And that, whate’er betide me,
   My Savior is at hand
   Through stormy seas to guide me
   And bring me safe to land.

3. I build on this foundation,
   That Jesus and His blood
   Alone are my salvation,
   The true, eternal good.
   Without Him all that pleases
   Is valueless on earth:
   The gifts I owe to Jesus
   Alone my love are worth.

4. My Jesus is my Splendor,
   My Sun, my Light, alone;
   Were He not my Defender
   Before God’s awe-full throne,
   I never should find favor
   And mercy in His sight,
   But be destroyed forever
   As darkness by the light.

5. He canceled my offenses,
   Delivered me from death;
   He is the Lord who cleanses
   My soul from sin through faith.
   In Him I can be cheerful,
   Bold, and undaunted aye;
   In Him I am not fearful
   Of God’s great Judgment Day.

6. Naught, naught, can now condemn me
   Nor set my hope aside;
   Now hell no more can claim me;
   Its fury I deride.
   No sentence e’er reproves me,
   No ill destroys my peace;
   For Christ, my Savior, loves me
   And shields me with His grace.

7. His Spirit in me dwelleth,
   And o’er my mind he reigns.
   All sorrow He dispelleth
   And soothes away all pains.
   He crowns His work with blessing
   And helpeth me to cry,
   “My Father!” without ceasing,
   To Him who dwells on high.

8. And when my soul is lying
   Weak, trembling, and oppressed,
   He pleads with groans and sighing
   That cannot be expressed;
   But God’s quick eye discerns them,
   Although they give no sound,
   And unto language turns them
   E’en in the heart’s deep ground.

9. To mine He Spirit speaketh
   Sweet words of holy cheer,
   How God to him that seeketh
   For rest is always near
   And how He hath erected
   A city fair and new,
   Where all that faith expected
   We evermore shall view.

10. In yonder home doth flourish
    My heritage, my lot;
    Though here I die and perish,
    My heav’n shall fail me not.
    Though care my life oft saddens
    And causes tears to flow,
    The light of Jesus gladdens
    And sweetens ev’ry woe.

11. Who clings with resolution
    To Him whom Satan hates
    Must look for persecution;
    For him the burden waits
    Of mock’ry, shame, and losses,
    Heaped on his blameless head;
    A thousand plagues and crosses
    Will be his daily bread.

12. From me this is not hidden,
    Yet I am not afraid;
    I leave my cares, as bidden,
    To whom my vows were paid.
    Though life and limb it cost me
    And everything I own,
    Unshaken shall I trust Thee
    And cleave to Thee alone.

13. Though earth be rent asunder,
    Thou’rt mine eternally;
    Not fire nor sword nor thunder
    Shall sever me from Thee;
    Not hunger, thirst, nor danger,
    Not pain nor poverty
    Nor mighty princes’ anger
    Shall ever hinder me.

14. No angel and no gladness,
    No throne, no pomp, no show,
    No love, no hate, no sadness,
    No pain, no depth of woe,
    No scheme of man’s contrivance,
    However small or great,
    Shall draw me from Thy guidance
    Nor from Thee separate.

15. My heart for joy is springing
    And can no more be sad,
    ’Tis full of mirth and singing,
    Sees naught but sunshine glad.
    The Sun that cheers my spirit
    Is Jesus Christ, my King;
    The heav’n I shall inherit
    Makes me rejoice and sing.

Ist Gott für mich, so trete
Paul Gerhardt, 1656
Tr. based on Richard Massie, 1857
Source: The Lutheran Hymnal, 1941, No. 528