352. Proper 4 (Series A)

This proper in the LSB 3-year series is whatever Sunday after Trinity falls between May 29 and June 4, if any. It could happen, if Easter falls no later than April 2. (That's nothing; for Proper 3 to kick in, Easter would have to be no later than March 27.) Its lessons are Deuteronomy 11:18-28, Romans 3:21-28 and Matthew 7:15-29. The present hymn focuses on the Epistle lesson. The tune is ELLINGHAM by Samuel S. Wesley (†1876), which Service Book and Hymnal paired with "Thy kingdom come! O Father, hear our prayer." Kind of a poor cousin of William H. Monk's EVENTIDE.

When God's Law speaks, all mortal mouths be closed!
By it all flesh as sinful is exposed.
But now God's righteousness has been revealed,
Witnessed by Scripture, to believers sealed.

For all have sinned and fall short of the mark,
Though Jew or heathen, neither's stain less dark;
But God declares us freely just in Christ—
Him publicly portrayed as sacrificed.

His blood was shed, God's holy wrath to sate,
Though sinless went He to the Victim's fate,
That God both just and merciful might be,
And that the faithful might salvation see.

Now God, who long from punishment forbore,
Need not iniquity seem to ignore;
Now, through our Substitute's shed blood and death,
God is both just and justifies through faith.

Away with boasting and self-righteous smirks!
For now are we through faith, apart from works,
Declared by God as righteous in His eyes;
No deeds nor blood but Jesus' justifies.