God, grant us the contentment

God, grant us the contentment

            Of knowing what we need,

Not wanting after riches

            That cause the soul to bleed.

Deliver us from evil

            That comes of loving wealth,

But hold us in your true love,

            Your life and breath and health.

Give us the grace, our dear Lord,

            To seek your gift of love;

To choose that which is faithful

            And peace-like as the dove.

With righteousness and goodness

            And gentleness to give,

O God of all our living,

            Hold us and help us live.

For we who know abundance,

            Let us not live in pride,

But only in your goodness,

            Lord, teach us to abide.

Keep us from vain desiring

            That leads to pain and strife,

But give to us your best gift:

            Life that is truly life.

TEXT: Charles Spence Freeman, 2019, after 1 Timothy 6:6-19.

MUSIC: Suggested tune SALLEY GARDENS, Irish folk melody.

Hopefully it is clear that these are not strict scripture paraphrases. Plenty of this passage is not reflected in the hymn. Still, I hope that this run of hymns are of some use in accompanying and perhaps interpreting these scriptures in song. And now I'm going to have to preach on all these epistle readings some day to be able to use these hymns in worship. (And yes, SALLEY GARDENS does appear as a hymn tune, at least in Glory to God: The Presbyterian Hymnal, attached to the old William Cowper text "Sometimes a light surprises.")