How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord

1
How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said,
To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?
2
"Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,
For I am thy God, and will still give thee aid;
I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand."
3
"When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of sorrow shall not overflow;
For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless,
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress."
4
"When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply;
The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine."
5
"E'en down to old age all My people shall prove
My sovereign, eternal, unchangeable love;
And then, when grey 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!"
53
Brian Musebule

Kampala, Uganda

Allan Ashurst is right. There is a second verse missing.


Allan Ashurst

Manchester, Greater Manchester, United Kingdom

An extra verse. It comes second in "Favourite Songs Of The Church" ISBN0 9514459 1 4. There the hymn's author is given as R. Keene.

2. In every condition - in sickness and health,

In poverty's vale or abounding in wealth,

At home and abroad, on the land or the sea,

As your days may demand, so your succour shall be.

Has anyone seen this elsewhere?


Robyn Douglas

Greenwood, South Carolina, United States

In response to Wayne Anderson.

Scripture References:

st. 1 = 1 Cor. 3:11

st. 2 = Isa. 41:10

st. 3-4 = Isa. 43:2

st. 5 = Rom. 8:35-39, Heb. 13:5, Deut. 31:6

I am sorry for your diagnosis, may the Lord be ever close to you and your family!


Dave

Hampshire, England, United Kingdom

These words have been set to several hymm tunes. The most common one is 'Foundation'.

As another comment has apready pointed out, it has also bee set to 'Adeste Fideles', the same tune as "O Come All Ye Faithful". More recently, a musician called Richard Simpkin composed a new tune, which is how I first heard "How Firm a Foundation".


Wayne A Anderson

Oregonia, OH, United States

I was recently diagnosed with ALS and one of my favorite verses has become Isaiah 43:1-2 which is represented in the third and fourth stances. Does anyone know what versus the other stanzas reflect?


Sheree Hughes

Syracuse, New York, United States

He’ll never, no, never, no never forsake! I know this to be true :)


Julie Macfadden

Wrightsville, PA, United States

I love this faith building hymn!


Jim

Decatur, Illinois, United States

This song resonates with me so much this morning.


Emily Bamford

Kilsyth, United Kingdom

Beautiful words. Even more special when you have experienced them. Iam thy God and will still give you aid. Thank you Father for the reality of your promises


Charlotte

Maple Creek, Saskatchewan, Canada

Singing it to "O come all ye faithful" tune tonight, excited for something new!