St. Columba's Affirmation (Alone with none but Thee my God) / King of Kings

This is a hymn about trusting in God alone. The words are based on a poem by the Irish abbot and missionary known as Columba aka Columcille, Colum, Columbus, Combs, and Columkill (521–597) who first worked in Ireland, and then established Iona abbey and spread the Gospel in Scotland.

Some sources (ref) say the English translation was made by translated by Scottish Presbyterian minister, Gaelic scholar, liturgist and poet, Duncan MacGregor (1854-1923), while others say the translator is unknown.

Books it has been published in include:

The Church Hymnal (Church of Ireland) in 1919, 1960, 2000
The Hymn Book of the Anglican Church of Canada and the United Church of Canada, Anglican Church of Canada, Toronto, Ont., 1971

With meter 8.6.8.6.8.8, tunes it has been set to include:

AUCH JETZT MACHT, composer unknown, first published in the Choralbuch of 1816
SOWBY composed in 1971 by Godfrey Ridout (1918-1984)
Another as-yet-unidentified but more commonly-used tune.

Image adapt. from Wikimedia

Downloads

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SATB choir arrangement by Heather Sorenson. Published by Shawnee Sacred, 12 pages

PowerPoint slides

Examples

Singer, unaccompanied, score on-screen:

Professional singers, concert with chamber orchestra:

Duet with electronic keyboard:

Singer with guitar - first verse only:

Choir with organ, professional recording:

Singer, self-accompanied on keyboard:

Gospel choirs - collaboration, virtual-choir style:

Singer with backing track:

Instrumental - string instruments, professional recording:

Instrumental, tune AUCH JETZT MACHT

Lyrics

Traditional language

Alone with none but thee, my God,
I journey on my way.
What need I fear when thou art near,
O King of night and day?
More safe am I within thy hand
than if a host should round me stand.

My destined time is known to thee,
and death will keep his hour;
did warriors strong around me throng,
they could not stay his power:
no walls of stone can man defend
when thou thy messenger dost send.

My life I yield to thy decree,
and bow to thy control
in peaceful calm, for from thine arm
no power can wrest my soul.
Could earthly omens e'er appal
a man that heeds the heavenly call?

(some settings have used this verse as a chorus)
The child of God can fear no ill,
his chosen dread no foe;
we leave our fate with thee, and wait
thy bidding when to go.
'Tis not from chance our comfort springs.
thou art our trust, O King of kings.

Modern English

Alone with none but you, my God,
I journey on my way.
What need I fear when you are near,
O King of night and day?
More safe am I within your hand
than if a host should round me stand.

My destined time is known to you,
and death will keep his hour;
Did warriors strong around me throng,
they could not stay his power:
no walls of stone can man defend
when you your messenger do send.

My life I yield to your decree,
and bow to your control
in peaceful calm, for from your arm
no power can wrest my soul.
Could earthly omens e'er appal
a man that heeds the heavenly call?

(some settings have used this verse as a chorus)
The child of God can fear no ill,
his chosen dread no foe;
we leave our fate with you, and wait
your bidding when to go.
'Tis not from chance our comfort springs.
You are our trust, O King of kings.