Now I have found the firm foundation

Representative Text

1 Now I have found the firm foundation
Which holds my life forever sure;
'Twas laid before the world's creation
In Christ my Savior's wounds secure,
Foundation which unmoved shall stay
When heav'n and earth will pass away.

2 It is that mercy never ending,
Which human wisdom far transcends,
Of him who, loving arms extending,
To wretched sinners condescends.
His heart with pity still will break
Whether we seek him or forsake.

3 Our ruin God has not intended;
For our salvation he has yearned.
For this his Son to earth descended
And then again to heav'n returned;
For this so patient evermore
He's knocking at our heart's closed door.

4 O depth of love, to me revealing
The sea where my sins disappear!
In Christ my wounds find perfect healing;
There is no condemnation here!
For Jesus' blood through earth and skies
Forever "Mercy! Mercy!" cries.

5 Let mercy cause me to be willing
To bear my lot and not to fret.
While he my restless heart is stilling,
May I this mercy not forget!
Whatever comes my heart to test,
His mercy is my only rest.

6 Lord, I will stand on this foundation
As long as I on earth remain;
This will engage my meditation
While I the breath of life retain.
And then, when face to face with you,
I'll sing your mercy great and true.

Source: Christian Worship (1993): a Lutheran hymnal #386

Author: Johann Andreas Rothe

Rothe, Johann Andreas, son of Aegidius Rother, pastor at Lissa, near Görlitz, in Silesia, was born at Lissa, May 12, 1688. He entered the University of Leipzig in 1708, as a student of Theology, graduated M.A., and was then, in 1712, licensed at Gorlitz as a general preacher. In 1718 he became tutor in the family of Herr von Schweinitz at Leube, a few miles south of Gorlitz, and while there frequently preached in neighbouring churches. During 1722 Count N. L. von Zinzendorf, happening to hear him preach at Gross-Hennersdorf, was greatly pleased with him, and when the pastorate at Berthelsdorf became vacant shortly thereafter, gave him the presentation. He entered on his duties at Berthelsdorf Aug. 30, 1722. There he took a great interest i… Go to person page >

Translator: Gottlob Frederick Krotel

Gottlob Frederick Krotel, D. D., LL. D; b. 1826, Wuerttemberg, Germany. Lutheran clergyman, new York City, "Misisterium of Pennsylvania." Chief Editor of "The Lutheran" Evangelical Lutheran Hymnal, 1908 Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Now I have found the firm foundation
German Title: Ich habe nun den Grund gefunden
Author: Johann Andreas Rothe (1727)
Translator: Gottlob Frederick Krotel (1880)
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Tune

O DASS ICH TAUSEND ZUNGEN HÄTTE (König)

Johann Balthaser König (b. Waltershausen, near Gotha, Germany, 1691; d. Frankfurt, Germany, 1758) composed this tune, which later became associated with Johann Mentzer's hymn "O dass ich tausend Zungen hätte" (Oh, That I Had a Thousand Voices). The harmonization is from the Wurttembergische Choral…

Go to tune page >


O DASS ICH TAUSEND ZUNGEN HÄTTE (Dretzel)


AUS GNADEN SOLL ICH SELIG WERDEN


Timeline

Media

The Cyber Hymnal #4625
  • Adobe Acrobat image (PDF)
  • Noteworthy Composer score (NWC)
  • XML score (XML)

Instances

Instances (1 - 3 of 3)
Text

Christian Worship (1993) #386

Text

Lutheran Worship #360

TextScoreAudio

The Cyber Hymnal #4625

Include 8 pre-1979 instances
Suggestions or corrections? Contact us