Zwingli’s plague hymn

What follows is a hymn written by the Swiss Reformer, Ulrich Zwingli (1 January 1484 – 11 October 1531) during a seminal period in his life when he was afflicted with the plague. It is grounded in the language of Psalm 18:2: “The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” The whole is divided into three sections, one referring to the onset of the disease, the next to the lowest point, and the last to the joy of recovery, with determination to walk in faith and with holiness from that point on.

Sickness

Help me, O Lord,
My strength and rock;
Lo, at the door
I hear death’s knock.

Uplift thine arm,
Once pierced for me,
That conquered death.
And set me free.

Yet, if thy voice,
In life’s midday.
Recalls my soul,
Then I obey.

In faith and hope
Earth I resign.
Secure of heaven.
For I am thine.

Decline

My pains increase;
Haste to console;
For fear and woe
Seize flesh and soul.

Death is at hand.
My senses fail.
My tongue is dumb;
Now, Christ, prevail.

Lo! Satan strains
To snatch his prey;
I feel his grasp;
Must I give way?

He harms me not,
I fear no loss,
For here I lie
Beneath thy cross.

Recovery

My God! My Lord!
Healed by thy hand.
Upon the earth
Once more I stand.

Let sin no more
Rule over me;
My mouth shall sing
Alone to thee.

Though now delayed,
My hour will come.
Involved, perchance.
In deeper gloom.

But, let it come;
With joy I’ll rise,
And bear my yoke
Straight to the skies.