We Gather Together

Words & Music: This song of praise was orig­in­al­ly writ­ten in 1597 to cel­e­brate a Dutch vic­to­ry. It ap­peared in Ne­der­landtsche Ge­denck­clanck, by Adri­an­us Va­ler­ius (Haar­lem, Hol­land: 1626) (Wilt heden nu treden).
Ar­ranged & trans­lat­ed from Dutch to La­tin by Ed­uard Krem­ser in Sechs Al­tnie­der­länd­ische Volks­lied­er (Leip­zig, Ger­many: 1877). Trans­lat­ed from Ger­man to Eng­lish by The­o­dore Bak­er, 1894.

We Gather Together
We gather together to ask the Lord’s blessing;
He chastens and hastens His will to make known.
The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing.
Sing praises to His Name; He forgets not His own.

Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining,
Ordaining, maintaining His kingdom divine;
So from the beginning the fight we were winning;
Thou, Lord, were at our side, all glory be Thine!

We all do extol Thee, Thou Leader triumphant,
And pray that Thou still our Defender will be.
Let Thy congregation escape tribulation;
Thy Name be ever praised! O Lord, make us free!