Be Still, My Soul

Words:10.10.10.10.10.10 • Katherine von Schlegel (1752), tr. Jane L. Borthwick (1855)
Music:FINLANDIA • Jean Sibelius (1899), with historical influences

Words

1.

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 Heav’nly Friend
  Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

2.

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.

3.

Be still, my soul! When dearest friends depart,
  And all is darkened in the vale of tears,
Then shalt thou better know His love, His heart,
  Who comes to soothe thy sorrow and thy fears.
Be still, my soul! Thy Jesus can repay
  From His own fullness all He takes away.

4.

Be still, my soul! The hour is hast’ning 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 blessed we shall meet at last.

5.

Be still, my soul! Begin the song of praise
  On earth, believing, to Thy Lord on high;
Acknowledge Him in all thy works and ways;
  So shall He view thee with a well-pleased eye.
Be still, my soul! The Sun of life divine
  Through passing clouds shall but more brightly shine.

Compared to Hymnals

  No. Words Music
Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs 373 Has “Acknowledge Him in all thy words and ways”
instead of “…all thy works and ways”
Identical
Songs for Worship and Praise 581 Lacks vss 3, 5 Final chord has alto on SOL
and adds optional bass note an octave lower
Songs of Faith and Praise 689 Lacks vss 3, 5 Final chord has alto on SOL
and adds optional bass note an octave lower
Praise for the Lord 41 Lacks vss 3, 5 Identical
Hymns for Worship (Revised) 87 Lacks vss 3, 5 Identical
Songs of the Church n/a
Sacred Selections n/a
Christian Hymns No. 2 n/a
Great Songs of the Church No. 2 n/a

Sources

References

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Through [Jesus] let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge His name.
— Hebrews 13:15