"A Pilgrim and a Stranger" by Paul Gerhardt, 1607-1676 Text From: THE HANDBOOK TO THE LUTHERAN HYMNAL (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1942), pp. 415-416 1. A Pilgrim and a Stranger, I journey here below; Far distant is my country, The home to which I go. Here I must toil and travail, Oft weary and opprest; But there my God shall lead me To everlasting rest. 2. I've met with storms and danger E'en from my early years, With enemies and conflicts, With fightings and with fears. There's nothing here that tempts me To wish a longer stay, So I must hasten forward, No halting or delay. 3. It is a well-worn pathway; A host has gone before, The holy saints and prophets, The patriarchs of yore. They trod the toilsome journey In patience and in faith; And them I fain would follow, Like them in life and death. 4. Who would share Abraham's blessing Must Abraham's path pursue, A stranger and a pilgrim, Like him, must journey through. The foes must be encountered, The dangers must be passed; A faithful soldier only Receives the crown at last. 5. So I must hasten forward,- Thank God, the end will come! This land of passing shadows Is not my destined home. The everlasting city, Jerusalem above, This evermore abideth, The home of light and love. 6. There still my thoughts are dwelling, 'Tis there I long to be; Come, Lord, and call Thy servant To blessedness with Thee. Come, bid my toils be ended, Let all my wanderings cease; Call from the wayside lodging To Thy sweet home of peace. 7. There I shall dwell forever, No more a parting guest, With all thy blood-bought children In everlasting rest, The pilgrim toils forgotten, The pilgrim conflicts o'er, All earthly griefs behind me, Eternal joys before. _________________________________________________________ Notes: Hymn #586 from The Handbook to The Lutheran Hymnal Text: Ps. 39: 12 Author: Paul Gerhardt, 1666, centro Translated by: Jane Borthwick, 1858 alt. Titled: Ich bin ein Gast auf Erden Composer: Hans L. Hassler, 1601 Tune: Herzlich tut mich ______________________________________________________________ This text was converted to ascii format for Project Wittenberg by Cindy A. Beesley and is in the public domain. You may freely distribute, copy or print this text. Please direct any comments or suggestions to: Rev. Robert E. Smith of the Walther Library at Concordia Theological Seminary. E-mail: smithre@mail.ctsfw.edu Surface Mail: 6600 N. Clinton St.,Ft. Wayne, IN 46825 USA Phone: (260) 481-2123 Fax: (260) 481-2126 ______________________________________________________________ file: /pub/resources/text/wittenberg/hymns: pilgrim.txt .