Be Still, My Soul

Lovely song, set to great music.  Renewal of the lyrics could be limited to swapping THEE/THY for YOU/YOUR.  When clarified with modern language, however, the conceit of a dialogue with one's own soul comes across as a bit stilted.  A solution?  Unite the soul and mind of the singer by using "OUR."  This seems to sound better to the modern ear and also preserves a sense of intimate dialogue.

Be still, my soul; the Lord is on THY side.
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
Leave to THY God to order and provide,
In ev’ry change He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul; THY best, THY heaven’ly Friend
Thro’ thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul; THY God DOTH undertake
To guide the future as He has the past.
THY hope, THY confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul; the waves and winds still know
His voice who rules them while he dwelt below.

Be still, my soul; the hour is hastening on
When we shall be forever with the Lord;
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone;
Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul; when change and tears are past,
All safe and blessed, we shall meet at last.

Lyrics by Katherina von Schlegel

Trans. Jane Borthwick

Comments and Suggestions:

None yet received.

Be still, my soul; the Lord is on OUR side.
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain;
Leave to OUR God to order and provide,
In ev’ry change He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul; OUR best, OUR heaven’ly Friend
Thro’ thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul; OUR God DOES undertake
To guide the future as He has the past.
OUR hope, OUR confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul; the waves and winds still know
His voice who rules them while he dwelt below.

Be still, my soul; the hour is hastening on
When we shall be forever with the Lord;
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone;
Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul; when change and tears are past,
All safe and blessed, we shall meet at last.

Renewal lyric changes by RH Reinhard