Paul Gerhardt

1607-1676 17th century

The song that keeps standing when everything else falls.

Who was Paul Gerhardt?

Orphaned early, his studies were broken up by the Thirty Years' War and he received a parish only at forty-four. In Berlin he lost his wife and four of his five children. Removed from office in 1666 for refusing to sign an edict restricting his preaching, he ended as pastor of a small town on the Spree; his hymns have been sung across Europe ever since.

In their own words

Commit thou all thy griefs and ways into His hands, to His sure truth and tender care, who earth and heaven commands.

'Befiehl du deine Wege', 1653, in the translation of John Wesley, 1739

I am a guest upon the earth, and here I have no standing place.

'Ich bin ein Gast auf Erden', 1666 (translated from the German by the Manna team)

Go forth, my heart, and seek delight in this dear summer time, among the gifts of your God.

'Geh aus, mein Herz, und suche Freud', 1653 (translated from the German by the Manna team)

If God is for me, then let everything at once rise up against me.

'Ist Gott für mich, so trete', 1653 (translated from the German by the Manna team)