Scripture Verse

Be strong, and of good courage; dread not, nor be dismayed. 1 Chronicles 22:13

Introduction

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Norman Macleod (1812–1872)

Words: Nor­man Mac­leod, 1857. First pub­lished as a po­em in The Ed­in­burgh Chris­tian Ma­ga­zine.

Music: Coura­ge Ar­thur S. Sul­li­van, 1871 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tune:

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Arthur S. Sullivan (1842–1900)

Lyrics

Courage, bro­ther, do not stum­ble,
Though thy path be dark as night;
There’s a star to guide the hum­ble:
Trust in God and do the right.
Let the road be rough and drea­ry,
And its end far out of sight,
Foot it brave­ly; strong or wea­ry,

Refrain

Trust in God, trust in God,
Trust in God and do the right.

Perish po­li­cy and cun­ning,
Perish all that fears the light!
Whether los­ing, whe­ther win­ning,
Trust in God and do the right,
Trust no par­ty, sect or fac­tion;
Trust no lead­ers in the fight;
But in ev­ery word or act­ion,

Refrain

Some will hate thee, some will love thee,
Some will flat­ter, some will slight;
Cease from man, and look above thee:
Trust in God and do the right.
Simple rule, and saf­est guid­ing,
Inward peace and in­ward might,
Star up­on our path abid­ing,

Refrain

Alternate form of last verse:

Trust no lov­ely forms of pass­ion—
Fiends may look like an­gels bright;
Trust no cus­tom, school or fa­shion:
Trust in God, and do the right.
Simple rule, and saf­est guid­ing,
Inward peace, and in­ward might,
Star up­on our path abid­ing,