C.D. Warner, et al., comp. The Library of the World’s Best Literature.
An Anthology in Thirty Volumes. 1917.
Under the Pressure of Care or Poverty
By Hans Sachs (14941576)
W
Why troubled, why dost mourn apart,
O’er naught but earthly wealth?
Trust in thy God; be not afraid:
He is thy Friend, who all things made.
He knows full well what thou dost need,
And heaven and earth are his;
My Father and my God, who still
Is with my soul in every ill.
I know thy faithful loving heart
Will ne’er forget thy child;
See, I am poor; I am but dust;
On earth is none whom I can trust.
But in my God my trust abides;
Laugh as ye will, I hold
This one thing fast that he hath taught,—
Who trusts in God shall want for naught….
As thou hast been and shalt be aye:
I rest on thee alone;
Thy riches to my soul be given,
And ’tis enough for earth and heaven.
If the eternal crown be mine,
That through thy bitter death
Thou gainedst, O Lord Christ, for me:
For this, for this, I cry to thee!
The best that this world can bestow,
Silver or gold or lands,
But for a little time is given,
And helps us not to enter heaven.
That thou hast taught me by thy word
To know this truth and thee;
Oh, grant me also steadfastness
Thy heavenly kingdom not to miss.
For all things in and for me wrought
By thy great mercy, Christ.
This one thing only still I pray,—
Oh, cast me ne’er from thee away.