| Be thou contented! aye relying On thy God, who life is giving, For He hath joys soul satisfying, Wanting Him—in vain thy striving. Thy Spring is He, Thy Sun that ever Rejoiceth thee, And setteth never. Be thou contented! | | He lightens, comforts, and supports thee, True in heart, by guile unstainèd; When He is near nought ever hurts thee, E’en when smitten sore and painèd. Cross, need, and woe He soon averteth, O’er the last foe His pow’r asserteth. Be thou contented! | | How it fareth with thee and others, Truly none from Him concealeth, He ever from on high discovers Burden’d hearts, and for them feeleth. Of weeping eyes The tears He counteth, The pile of sighs ’Fore Him high mounteth. Be thou contented! | | When not another on earth liveth, To whom safe thou may’st confide thee, He’ll faithful prove, who ne’er deceiveth, And to happiest end will guide thee. The secret grief Thy soul that boweth, And when relief To give, He knoweth. Be thou contented! | | The sighing of thy soul He ever, And thy heart’s deep plaint is hearing; What to another thou wouldst never Tell, reveal to God, ne’er fearing. 204 He is not far, But standeth near thee, Who poor men’s pray’r Marks, soon will hear thee. Be thou contented! | | To God cleave, He’ll salvation show thee, Let not anguish then depress thee; Although devouring floods o’erflow thee, Rise above it, He will bless thee. When ’neath the load Thy back low bendeth, Thy Prince and God Soon succour sendeth. Be thou contented! | | Why for thy life should care so grieve thee, How to nourish and sustain it? Thy God, who ever life doth give thee, Will provide for and maintain it. He hath a hand With gifts o’erflowing, On sea and land For aye bestowing. Be thou contented! | | Who for the forest songsters careth, To their daily portion leads them, For sheep and ox enough prepareth, Slakes their thirst, with plenty feeds them; He’ll care for thee, Thee, lone one! filling, So bounteously Thy hunger stilling. Be thou contented! | | Say not, the means nowhere appeareth, Where I seek, my effort faileth; God this high name of honour beareth, Helper, when no help availeth! When thou and I Fail to discover Him, speedily He’ll us recover. Be thou contented! | | Although away thy help is staying, He will not for ever leave thee; Tho’ anxious makes thee His delaying, ’Tis for thy greater good, believe me. 206 What on the way To come ne’er hasteth, Doth longer stay, And sweeter tasteth. Be thou contented! | | Though ’gainst thee hosts of foes are scheming, Let not all their lies affright thee; Still let them rage against thee, deeming God will hear it and will right thee. Doth God support Thee and thine ever? The foe can hurt Or ruin never. Be thou contented! | | To each his share of ill is given, Would he only see and know it; No course on earth so fair and even, That no trouble lurks below it. Who can declare, “My house was ever All free from care, And troubled never?” Be thou contented! | | So must it be, in vain our grieving, All men here must suffer ever, Whate’er upon the earth is living, Evil days avoideth never. Affliction’s blow Doth oft depress us, And lays us low, And death then frees us. Be thou contented! | | A day will dawn of rest and blessing, When our God will come and save us From the vile body’s bands depressing, And the evils that enslave us. Death soon will come, From woe deliver, And take us home Then all together. Be thou contented! | | He’ll bring us to the hosts in glory, To the chosen and true-hearted, Who when they clos’d this life’s sad story, Hence in peace to joy departed, 208 And on the shore, The ever-vernal, Hear evermore, The voice eternal. Be thou contented! | |