Leave God to order all thy ways

Representative Text

1 Leave God to order all thy ways,
And hope in him whate’er betide;
Thou’lt find him in the evil days
Thy all-sufficient strength and guide;
Who trusts in God’s unchanging love
Builds on the rock that naught can move.

2 Only thy restless heart keep still,
And wait in cheerful hope, content
To take whate’er his gracious will,
His all-discerning love, hath sent;
Nor doubt our inmost wants are known
To him who chose us for his own.

3 Sing, pray, and swerve not from his ways,
But do thine own part faithfully;
Trust his rich promises of grace,
So shall they be fulfilled in thee;
God never yet forsook at need
The soul that trusted him indeed.


Source: The Song Book of the Salvation Army #738

Author: Georg Neumark

Georg Neumark (b. Langensalza, Thuringia, Germany, 1621; d. Weimar, Germany, 1681) lived during the time of the Thirty Years' War, when social and economic conditions were deplorable. He had personal trials as well. On his way to Königsberg to study at the university, traveling in the comparative safety of a group of merchants, he was robbed of nearly all his possessions. During the next two years he spent much of his time looking for employment. He finally secured a tutoring position in Kiel. When he had saved enough money, he returned to the University of Königsberg and studied there for five years. In Königsberg he again lost all his belongings, this time in a fire. Despite his personal suffering Neumark wrote many hymns in which he e… Go to person page >

Translator: Catherine Winkworth

Catherine Winkworth (b. Holborn, London, England, 1827; d. Monnetier, Savoy, France, 1878) is well known for her English translations of German hymns; her translations were polished and yet remained close to the original. Educated initially by her mother, she lived with relatives in Dresden, Germany, in 1845, where she acquired her knowledge of German and interest in German hymnody. After residing near Manchester until 1862, she moved to Clifton, near Bristol. A pioneer in promoting women's rights, Winkworth put much of her energy into the encouragement of higher education for women. She translated a large number of German hymn texts from hymnals owned by a friend, Baron Bunsen. Though often altered, these translations continue to be used i… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Leave God to order all thy ways
German Title: Wer nur den lieben Gott lässt walten
Author: Georg Neumark (1653)
Translator: Catherine Winkworth (1855)
Meter: 8.8.8.8.8.8
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Tune

NEUMARK

Published in 1657 (see above) WER NUR DEN LIEBEN GOTT is also known as NEUMARK. Johann S. Bach (PHH 7) used the tune in its isorhythmic shape (all equal rhythms) in his cantatas 21, 27, 84, 88, 93, 166, 179, and 197. Many Lutheran composers have also written organ preludes on this tune. WER NUR DEN…

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[Leave God to order all thy ways]


PENIEL (Booth)


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The Song Book of the Salvation Army #738

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