You stop me in the darkness,
halfway across my ford;
I cannot flee forever,
nor find my peace restored.

Behind me night is looming,
a lonely, fearful choice;
but you who are before me,
you have my brother’s voice.

All that which I would rather
forget, you make me see,
the fraud that I committed,
my lies, and treachery.

Well then, here I must wrestle
and cling to you, O God,
demanding that you bless me
despite the path I trod.

One verse interlude without text

I need no longer flee from
myself or you but dwell
securely in the knowledge
I met my Penuel.

Now I have seen your face, Lord,
and fought in your embrace.
So let me limp on, wounded,
relying on your grace.

Are you downhearted, dearest friend,
who in God’s Son believe
and in His saviour-name your prayers
say every morn and eve?

Look up beyond the darkened clouds
to Heaven far above
where God, our Father, in His hand
holds everything with love.

Then, like a child, look at this world
and know that all that’s here
exists in service to the good
of those whom God holds dear.

They say each devil has his time
but certain is that all
who fought against our mighty God
have met defeat and fall.

God’s angels are so many kinds,
you’ll find them everywhere,
and what God’s will is aiming at
does happen on a hair.

God’s purpose is in every storm,
however wild it is;
each flood and every raging fire
a servant is of His.

And when the world is casting lots
for honour, goods, and life,
God in His hand the outcome holds
with loving-kindness rife.

If you believe that God does love
what He from dust has made,
then in His Spirit rest and work
and never be afraid.

A mighty fortress is our faith,
its spires our hope proclaim.
In faith God’s Spirit we receive
when baptized in Christ’s name.

Wake up and let your strings be sounding,
sing me a joyful morning song!
Dear soul, arise, from bed be bounding,
leap up to join the Heav’nly throng!
Now loudly knock on Heavens gate,
your worldly worries all can wait!

To Heaven I shall be ascending
far from my body’s earthly clay;
God is His realm to me extending,
and there I daily make my way;
laud, honour, praise, and thanks are due
a thousand fold, God, unto You!

The only thing that I can render
is gratitude of all my heart,
all other works I could engender
with much too many faults are marred;
but You do not disdain my sighs
nor tears that well up in my eyes.

I shall attend to my vocation
and presently my work begin;
God’s grace will be my life’s foundation
as it in all my time has been;
God holds me in His mighty hands,
His Spirit always with me stands.

I shall not on the world be building
however fortunate I’ll be;
but as each hour to hour is yielding
I tell my soul the certainty
that time does pass like running sand,
eternity is close at hand.

O Jesus, source of love and care,
You took my sinful burden;
You did not try Yourself to spare
but gave salvation certain.
Grant that I thus my neighbour love
and let this be a sign thereof:
I never want to hurt him.

For he who clings to goods and might
and worldly honour treasures,
and who disdains his neighbour’s light,
in mockery takes pleasure,
if he in church a pious role
displays, God will not know his soul,
it is an empty gesture.

Grant that my lips hypocrisy
and guile shall ne’er be sounding,
nor pretty words of mine shall be
a wicked thought expounding;
but grant that truthfully I can
love both my God and fellow man
and reap a joy abounding.

“Do not despise the days of small things!”
was said when Israel again
a temple to the God of all things
was building in Jerusalem,
a shadow of the former one,
the temple of king Solomon.

“Do not despise the days of small things!”
is said to us, too, as we build
a house of God, the Lord of all things.
That word has us with comfort filled.
We build a house of humble state,
a shadow of God’s mansions great.

Do not despise that means are humble,
here helps no mighty, pow’rful hand.
Yet even mountain tops shall tumble:
God’s Spirit works as He has planned.
Let quiet, loving work proceed,
in time the works of hearts succeed.

As humble hearts in chests residing
so is our cottage church below.
But God the Spirit is providing
the glorious light by which we grow,
and as a cornerstone secure
God’s Word forever will endure.

Do not despise the days of small things!
It will succeed as Scripture says:
Our gracious Lord, the God of all things,
the feeble hands of men will bless.
Who the foundation humbly laid
shall see the house for which they prayed.

The country lies in deep repose,
and peace rules hearth and home,
while silver clouds the moon inclose
and through the heavens roam.

The lake without a ripple lies
in heaven’s soft embrace;
from yonder hills sweet voices rise
and thank the Lord of grace.

While earth succumbs to peaceful rest
and finds from care relief,
I bid you, stranger, in my breast:
Forget your fear and grief.

Make peace with every soul that here
may not you understand;
behold, from heaven’s lofty sphere
peace falls upon the land!

An angel, standing by your side
with healing on his wings,
to you, when falls the eventide,
sweet peace from heaven brings.

O, learn of him your evening song:
Peace be to every soul!
Though here he may not tarry long,
he leads to yonder goal.

Peace with each heart, both far and near,
where restlessness may gnaw!
Peace with the few that hold me dear
and those I never saw.

It is delightful to share a road
when two have chosen to stay together:
the joy is double when light the load,
and storms are but half as hard to weather.
Yes, it is merry
for two to carry,
for two to carry
their plumage, very,
sustained by love,
sustained by love.

It is enjoyable everywhere
when two their wills have in one united;
and what will carry the larger share
is love that deep in the heart is sited.
It is a pleasure
to be a treasure,
to be a treasure
in heartfelt measure
of unity,
of unity.

It is so wonderful to obey
the Lord who governs all mighty nations.
He won’t forget us when we are grey;
His mercy covers all generations.
It’s joy forever
that they will never,
that they will never
desert us, never,
the Words of God!
the Words of God!

To part brings sorrow to loving hearts
when two have chosen to stay together.
But praise the Lord as He hope imparts:
in Paradise they shall see each other.
It’s joy agreeing
and keep on being,
and keep on being
like two who’re seeing
that life is love,
that life is love.

Each married couple who lovingly
in Jesus’ name celebrate their wedding,
through happy times and adversity
will find that day and night they are getting
the message clearly
that they have really,
that they have really
their hearth-flame dearly
surpassed with love,
surpassed with love.