Christ My Song - 1466
Man hath his anxious seasons - Self-knowledge
(Carl Johann Philipp Spitta/Richard Massie/
Johannes Thomas Rüegg)
Self-knowledge.
1. Man hath his anxious seasons,
much pain not understood;
nor can he tell his reasons,
till he discovers God:
when first he comprehendeth
how just He is and true,
his dream of goodness endeth,
his sins come all to view. PDF - Midi
2. With thee, O Lord, acquainted,
he learns to look within,
and sees his heart is tainted,
and full, alas! of sin.
From thy great power he learneth
how vile he is and base,
his nakedness discerneth
in thy abounding grace.
3. O goodness past expression,
which brings not to our view
the height of our transgression,
until it shows us too
a mode of expiation
through Christ's atoning blood,
a full and free salvation,
and blissful rest with God!
4. What need we to content us,
since God gives us so much?
What fears can now torment us,
since his great love was such,
that ere we comprehended
our sin, distress, and loss,
the mighty work was ended
which saved us on the cross?
5. Should greater be my gladness
that thou such love dost show,
or greater still my sadness
that I have grieved thee so?
Ah! both alike are needful,
to know how poor I be,
and yet not be unheedful
how rich I am in thee.
6. O happy hour of sadness
and pain not understood,
which endeth in such gladness
and everlasting good!
Mine eyes upraised to heaven
with tears of joy run o'er:
I know I am forgiven;
ah! what can I want more?
Richard Massie, Lyra Domestica I, 1863, 38-39.
Translated from the German Der Mensch hat bange Stunden - Verständnis
of Carl Johann Philipp Spitta.