Words
1.
How firm a foundation, you saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!
What more can He say than to you He has said,
You who unto Jesus for refuge have fled?
2.
“Fear not, I am with you, O be not dismayed,
For I am your God and will still give you aid;
I’ll strengthen you, help you, and cause you to stand,
Upheld by My gracious, omnipotent hand.”
3.
“When through the deep waters I cause you to go,
The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow,
For I will be with you, your troubles to bless,
And sanctify to you your deepest distress.”
4.
“When through fiery trials your pathway shall lie,
My grace, all-sufficient, shall be your supply.
The flame shall not hurt you; I only design
Your dross to consume and your gold to refine.”
5.
“E’en down to old age all My people shall prove
My sov’reign, eternal, unchangeable love;
And when graying hairs shall their temples adorn,
Like lambs they shall still in my bosom be borne.”
6.
“The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose
I will not, I will not desert to his foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no never, no never forsake.”
Biblical Connections
Verse 1
See Isa 28:16; 1 Pet 2:6; Rom 9:33; Eph 2:19-22; 1 Cor 3:11; Psa 119:28; 2 Tim 2:19
Verse 2
Based on Isa 41:10:
fear not, for I am with you;
be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
See also Deu 20:3-4; 31:6, 8; Josh 1:9; Ps 27:1-3; 2 Kgs 19:6; Mt 1:22; 28:20; John 14:1; Rom 8:31-39; 1 Pet 3:13-17.
Verse 3
Based on Isa 43:2a:
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
See also Ex. 14:15–16; 2 Sam. 22:17
Verse 4
Based on Isa 43:2b:
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
and the flame shall not consume you.
See also Isa 1:25; Dan 3; Zech. 13:9; 1 Pet. 1:6–7; 4:12–13.
- “My grace, all-sufficient, shall be your supply” - 2 Cor 9:8; 12:9
- “The flame shall not hurt you; I only design Your dross to consume and your gold to refine.” - 1 Pet 1:6-7
Verse 5
Based on Isa 46:4:
even to your old age I am he,
and to gray hairs I will carry you.
I have made, and I will bear;
I will carry and will save.
And Isa 40:11:
He will tend his flock like a shepherd;
he will gather the lambs in his arms;
he will carry them in his bosom,
and gently lead those that are with young.
Verse 6
Like vs 1, see Isa 28:16 and 1 Pet 2:6.
- »I’ll never, no never, no never forsake.« - Heb 13:5
Compared to Hymnals
We updated archaic English
Most hymnals use the original, archaic pronouns (“ye,” “thee,” “thy”); we use the modern equivalents (“you,” “you,” “your”) for clarity.
We include six stanzas
Of this hymn’s original seven stanzas, there are six which are commonly used. We include all six.
| |
No. |
Words |
Music |
| Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs |
400 |
Uses original archaic pronouns; |
Identical |
| Songs for Worship and Praise |
487 |
Uses original archaic pronouns;
Uses original “I, I am” instead of “For I am” in vs 2;
Lacks vss 3, 4, 5 |
Identical |
| Songs of Faith and Praise |
457 |
Uses original archaic pronouns;
Uses original “I, I am” instead of “For I am” in vs 2;
Lacks vss 3, 4, 5 |
Identical |
| Praise for the Lord |
248 |
Uses original archaic pronouns;
Uses original “hath said” instead of “has said” in vs 1;
Uses original “hoary hairs” instead of “graying hairs” in vs 5 |
Small differences in voice leading1 |
| Hymns for Worship (Revised) |
296 |
Uses original archaic pronouns;
Lacks vss 3, 4, 5 |
Identical |
| Songs of the Church |
178 |
Uses original archaic pronouns;
Uses original “I, I am” instead of “For I am” in vs 2;
Lacks vss 3, 4, 5 |
Identical |
| Sacred Selections |
214 |
Uses original archaic pronouns;
Uses original “hath said” instead of “has said” in vs 1;
Alters last line of vs 1 to “To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?”;
Uses “I will still give thee aid” instead of “and will still...” in vs 1;
Lacks vs 3;
Uses original “hoary hairs” instead of “graying hairs” in vs 5;
Alters “The soul that on Jesus hath leaned” to “The soul that on Jesus still leans” in vs 6 |
Different arrangement |
| Christian Hymns No. 2 |
88 |
Uses original archaic pronouns;
Uses original “I, I am” instead of “For I am” in vs 2;
Lacks vss 3, 4, 5 |
Identical |
| Great Songs of the Church No. 2 |
397 |
Uses original archaic pronouns;
Uses original “I, I am” instead of “For I am” in vs 2;
Uses original “hoary hairs” instead of “graying hairs” in vs 5 |
Small differences in voice leading1, 2 |
1Alto sings MI half note instead of slurred MI-SOL quarter notes at beginning of m. 1 (at “firm” in vs 1); Alto sings SOL instead of DO at beginning of m. 9 (at “more” in vs 1); Tenor sings DO DO instead of SOL SOL in second half of m. 2 (at “-tion, ye” in vs 1); Tenor sings DO instead of SOL at beginning of m. 8 (at “Word!” in vs 1); Tenor does not have optional SOL at end; Bass sings DO half note instead of slurred DO-MI quarter notes at beginning of m. 1 (at “firm” in vs 1)
2Tenor sings SOL DO instead of TI DO in second half of mm. 4 and 12 (at “Is laid” and “You who” in vs 1)
References