How firm a foundation, you saints of the Lord

Authors:
Themes:
Scriptures:
  • Genesis 28:15
  • Deuteronomy 31:5
  • Deuteronomy 33:25
  • Joshua 1:5
  • 1 Kings 8:57
  • 1 Chronicles 28:20
  • Ezra 8:22
  • Psalms 66:12
  • Proverbs 25:4
  • Isaiah 1:25
  • Isaiah 41:10
  • Isaiah 42:10
  • Isaiah 43:1-2
  • Isaiah 48:10
  • Jeremiah 30:10-11
  • Daniel 3
  • Zechariah 13:9
  • Malachi 3:2-3
  • Matthew 11:29-30
  • Matthew 28:20
  • John 10:28-29
  • Acts 14:22
  • Acts 18:9-10
  • Romans 10:11
  • Romans 8:28
  • Romans 9:33
  • 1 Corinthians 3:10-14
  • 2 Corinthians 12:9
  • Philippians 4:12-13
  • 2 Timothy 2:19
  • Hebrews 13:5
  • 1 Peter 1:7
  • 1 Peter 4:12-13
  • 1 Peter 5:10
  • Revelation 19:6
Book Number:
  • 877

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,
to all who for refuge to Jesus have fled?

2. In every condition-in sickness, in health,
in poverty’s grip or abounding in wealth,
at home or abroad, on the land, on the sea-
as days may demand shall your strength ever be.

3. Since Jesus is with you, do not be afraid;
since he is your God, you need not be dismayed:
he’ll strengthen you, guard you, and help you to stand,
upheld by his righteous, omnipotent hand.

4. When through the deep waters he calls you to go,
you will not be drowned in the rivers of woe;
for he will be with you in trouble, to bless
and work for your good through your deepest distress.

5. When through fiery trials your pathway shall lie,
his grace all-sufficient shall be your supply;
the flames shall not harm you: his only design
your dross to consume and your gold to refine.

6. The soul that in Jesus has found its repose,
he will not, he cannot, desert to its foes;
that soul, though all hell should endeavour to shake,
he’ll never, no never, no never forsake!

© In this version Praise Trust
‘K’ in Rippon’s Selection 1787

The Christian Life - Suffering and Trial

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Tune

  • Montgomery
    Montgomery
    Metre:
    • 11 11 11 11
    Composer:
    • Magdalen Hospital Hymns (c1762)

The story behind the hymn

For over two centuries this lively, confident hymn has appeared as something of a mystery item in our hymn-books.

A look at the author

K - in Rippon's Selection

The 18th-c author of no.877 has never been convincingly identified; see notes in EP vol 1. See also under J Rippon; it was apparently Wm Gadsby (qv) who first linked this hymn with Kirkham, but this has no supporting evidence and he is otherwise unknown. (Robert Kirkham was a friend from the Wesleys’ ‘Holy Club’ days, but not a hymnwriter.)