I have called you friends.
John 15:15
Words: Carl O. Rosenius, 1851 (Med Gud och hans vänskap), in the paper Pietisten. Translated from Swedish to English by C. R. Osback, 1925; appeared in The Covenant Hymnal (Chicago, Illinois: Covenant Book Concern, 1931), number 295.
Music: Ack, Saliga Stunder Oskar Ahnfelt, 1851 (🔊 pdf nwc).
If you know Osback’s full name, or where to get a good photo of him (head & shoulders, at least 200×300 pixels),
With God and His friendship, his Spirit and Word,
With brethren partaking the bread of our Lord,
With courage and joy we will meet coming days:
The Shepherd is with us, the Shepherd is with us,
The dear, loving Shepherd, He guides all our ways.
In perilous times, thro’ the gloom of the night,
A host marches on through the darkness to light;
These pilgrims obscured, are disowned by the world,
But owned by the Master, but owned by the Master,
They march on to glory, with banners unfurled.
The Pillar that guides us thro’ dangers and strife,
The Rock that refreshes with waters of life,
Is Christ and His love and His soul cleansing blood:
Our soul’s life and glory, our soul’s life and glory,
In joys and in sorrows with us He has stood.
O Jesus! be with us, abide with us still,
And care for us, bear us, and teach us Thy Will.
Thy glory, O Jesus, Thou’llt soon let us see:
Praise, glory, and honor, praise, glory and honor,
Praise, glory and honor, our Savior, to Thee!