A hymn of consolation

Georg Neumark was born at Langensalza, Thuringia, Germany, March 16, 1621. He was the son of Michael Neumark, a clothier at Langensalza.

In 1641, while on his way to Königsberg to study at the university, Neumark was robbed and lost most of his possessions. He worked and saved enough money to later return to the University of Königsberg, where he studied for 5 years. Neumark wrote over 30 hymns. Trust in God (beginning “Wer nur den lieben Gott läßt walten,” or “If thou but suffer God to guide thee”) is the best known. This hymn was first published in Fortgepflantzter musikalisch-poetischer Lustwald in 1657. It consists of 7 stanzas in 6 lines each  (9.8.9.8.8.8 meter). It is titled “A hymn of consolation” with a reference to Psalm 55:22: “Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.” Neumark believed “That God will care for and preserve His own in His own time.” This hymn was written in 1641, after God’s providence had brought the robbed and poverty-stricken Neumark to Kiel, where he became a tutor while earning an income to go back to Königsberg.

Georg Neumark died July 8, 1681 in Weimar. He is buried in the Jacobsfriedhof.

1. If thou but suffer God to guide thee,
And hope in him through all thy ways,
He’ll give thee strength whate’er betide thee,
And bear thee through the evil days.
Who trust in God’s unchanging love
Builds on the rock that nought can move.
 
2. What can these anxious cares avail thee,
These never ceasing moans and sighs?
What can it help, if thou bewail thee
O’er each dark moment as it flies?
Our cross and trials do but press
The heavier for our bitterness.
 
3. Only be still and wait his leisure
In cheerful hope, with heart content
To take whate’er thy Father’s pleasure
And all-deserving love hath sent,
Nor doubt our inmost wants are known
To him who chose us for his own.
 
4. He knows the time for joy, and truly
Will send it when he sees it meet,
When he has tried and purged thee throughly
And finds thee free from all deceit,
He comes to thee all unaware
And makes thee own his loving care.
 
5. Nor think amid the heat of trial
That God hath cast thee off unheard,
That he whose hopes meet no denial
Must surely be of God preferred;
Time passes and much change doth bring,
And sets a bound to ev’rything.
 
6. All are alike before the Highest.
’Tis easy to our God, we know,
To raise thee up though low thou liest,
To make the rich man poor and low;
True wonders still by him are wrought
Who setteth up and brings to nought.
 
7. Sing, pray, and keep his ways unswerving,
So do thine own part faithfully,
And trust his word, though undeserving,
Thou yet shalt find it true for thee;
God never yet forsook at need
The soul that trusted him indeed.

The English translation “If thou but suffer God to guide thee” was made Catherine Winkworth (1827-1878), and was published as No. 134 in Chorale Book for England, 1863. There are several other English translations of this hymn.

Neumark also wrote a tune for his hymn, which was also published in 1657 (but probably written in 1641). It is usually called Neumark after its author.