Category: Hymn of the Week

Poetry by Mary A.S. Barber (1858)
Music by W.T. Porter (1858)

Prince of Peace! control my will,
Bid this struggling heart be still;
Bid my fears and doubtings cease—
Hush my spirit into peace.

Thou hast bought me with Thy blood,
Opened wide the gate to God;
Peace I ask, but peace must be,
Lord, in being one with Thee.

May Thy will, not mine, be done;
May Thy will and mine be one;
Chase these doubtings from my heart;
Now Thy perfect peace impart.

Savior, at Thy feet I fall;
Thou my life, my God, my All;
Let Thy happy servant be
One forevermore with Thee.

Poetry by Ben­ja­min Schmolck (1704), translated from German to English by Jane L. Borth­wick (1854)

My Jesus, as Thou wilt! Oh, may Thy will be mine!
Into Thy hand of love I would my all resign;
Through sorrow, or through joy, conduct me as Thine own,
And help me still to say, my Lord, Thy will be done!

My Jesus, as Thou wilt! If needy here and poor,
Give me Thy people’s bread, their portion rich and sure.
The manna of Thy Word Let my soul feed upon;
And if all else should fail, my Lord, thy will be done.

My Jesus, as Thou wilt! Though seen through many a tear,
Let not my star of hope grow dim or disappear;
Since Thou on earth hast wept, and sorrowed oft alone,
If I must weep with Thee, my Lord, Thy will be done!

My Jesus, as Thou wilt! All shall be well for me;
Each changing future scene I gladly trust with Thee:
Straight to my home above I travel calmly on,
And sing, in life or death, my Lord, Thy will be done!

Words by Katharina von Schlegel (1752)
Translated into English by Jane Borthwick (1855)
Music by Jean Sibelius (1899)
Sound recording from the Kleinwood singing

Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side.
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change, He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heavenly friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertake
To guide the future, as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below.

Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on
When we shall be forever with the Lord.
When disappointment, grief and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past
All safe and blessèd we shall meet at last.

Poetry: From the 1912 Psalter
Music: Benjamin Bruce, 2010

This is a metrical psalm that I have put to music. I’m still working on the harmonies, but when it is complete I will post it here.

O Lord, our Lord, in all the earth
How excellent Thy name!
Thy glory Thou hast spread afar
In all the starry frame.

From lips of children, Thou, O Lord,
Hast mighty strength ordained,
That adversaries should be stilled
And vengeful foes restrained.

When I regard the wondrous heav’ns,
Thy handiwork on high,
The moon and stars ordained by Thee,
“O what is man?” I cry.

O what is man, in Thy regard
To hold so large a place?
And what the son of man that Thou
Dost visit him in grace?

On man Thy wisdom hath bestowed
A pow’r well nigh divine;
With honor Thou hast crowned his head
With glory like to Thine.

Thou hast subjected all to him,
And lord of all is he,
Of flocks and herds, of beasts and birds,
And all within the sea.

Thy mighty works and wondrous grace
Thy glory, Lord, proclaim.
O Lord, our Lord, in all the earth
How excellent Thy name!