Ein wahrer Christ in dieser Welt

Here is my translation of “Ein wahrer Christ in dieser Welt” (Melchior Eccard), a hymn on the three [non-literal] days of a Christian’s life “in this valley of tears.” It is appointed to be sung to the tune, “Da Jesus Christ verraten ward” or “Wann mein Stündlein vorhanden ist.”

A TRUE, believing Christian’s life
Is but three days in measure;
God calls us to this world of strife
For such is His good pleasure,
That we hereafter may be crowned
And in a glorious robe found
By Jesus Christ, our Savior.

2. First with Good Friday we must start,
And in our Passion languish–
The day, O Christian, when thy heart
Is filled with grief and anguish:
When death is e’er before thine eyes,
And thou, distressed, canst not advise
Which way to go is better.

3. Look up to Jesus Christ, thy King,
Upon the cross uplifted,
Receive His bloody offering
In faith, of falsehood sifted,
And know, This day will have an eve,
Our soul it may not always grieve,
But soon it will be ended.

4. And next shall follow, free of pain,
A Day of peace and slumber,
The day when once, thy rest to gain,
Christ lay within His chamber
When He, O faithful heart, for thee
His Sabbath spent, death’s death to be
Within the tomb reposing.

5. As He that day His rest received
From every worldly sorrow,
So shall His Christians be relieved
Upon that Sabbath morrow,
When in their sleeping-chambers they
Will take their pause, and peaceful stay
Until the Last Day brightens.

6. When then the Third Day stirs thy sleep,
No soul in all creation
May under earth or elsewhere keep
A moment more her station;
All flesh shall then be raised again
As in God’s Word His promise plain
And certain will are stated.

7. On that tremendous Easter Morn,
In ceaseless joy and gladness
The Church, that died in Christ, reborn,
Will know no grief or sadness,
But shining like the sun, adore
And praise her God forevermore:
Amen. Lord Jesus grant it!

Translation © Matthew Carver, 2011.

GERMAN

1. Ein wahrer Christ in dieser Welt
drei Tage muß zubringen,
denn Gott es also wohlgefällt,
der ihn hie hiesset ringen,
auf daß er dort gekrönet werd
mit ewiger Glorie und Zierd
bei Jesu, seinem Herren.

2. Der erste der Karfreitag ist
wohl in der Marterwochen,
da wird dein Herz, o frommer Christ,
mit Angst und Schmerz gebrochen,
daß dir für Augen steht der Tod
in deiner größten Angst und Not,
weißt nicht, wo Aus noch Eine.

3. Als dann sieh Jesum Christum an,
für dich am Kreuz erhaben,
und nimm sein blutigs Opfer an
in rechtem wahrem Glauben
und denk: ein Tag der ist ein Tag,
so je nicht ewig währen mag,
sondern sich bald tut enden.

4. Darauf wird folgen ohne Schmerz
der ander Tag mit Friedn,
auf welchen du, O frommes Herz,
von Christo bist beschieden,
da er den Sabbath in dem Grab
nach seinem Tod gehalten hat
auch dir zu Gut und Frommen.

5. Dann gleich wie er geruhet hat
von allen seinen Schmerzen,
also wird folgen der Sabbath
auch aller frommen Herzen,
wann sie in ihrn Schlafkämmerlein
rasten und ruhen werden fein
bis an den Jüngsten Tage.

6. Da wird folgen der dritte Tag,
an welchem in der Erden
kein toter Mensch mehr bleiben mag,
weil wird gegeben werden
die Auferstehung allem Fleisch
nach Gottes Willen und Verheisch,
in seinem Wort gegründet.

7. An diesem großen Ostertag
mit ewger Freud und Wonne
ohn alles Leid, Angst, Plag und Klag
wird leuchten als die Sonne
die ausserwählt Christgläubig Schaar,
Gott liebn und loben immerdar;
das gib, Herr Jesu, Amen.

Der Herr unser Schöpfer / Geht hin die ihr gebenedeit

Here is my translation of the Bohemian Brethren closing hymns “Der Herr unser Schöpfer und Gott” and “Geht hin, die ihr gebenedeit” (P. Herbert, 1566). The Bohemian Brethren based this closing hymn on a local Trope found in several medieval missals, such as Mosburg, München, Engelberg, and Ratisbon. Based on the traditional dismissal formula of the Mass, “Ite, missa est,” this Trope, part of a series of such Tropes with suitable variations for the seasons and occasions, was sung after the Complend or final Collect, before the priest intoned the Ite missa est, though it seems to have come before the Benediction in the Bohemian use. It is unclear whether they retained both. The two hymns being placed together seem to indicate an alternation or variation according to season or occaison.  The Bohemian Brethren have two adaptations based on the common “Ite-Trope”: the first represents an inspired adaptation to Reformation usage by incorporating the words of the Aaronic Benediction and the Epistolary Benediction (the fourth stanza might therefore best be sung in lesser offices where the Epist. Bened. is appointed); the second follows more closely the idea of the Ite-Trope, though adapted to reflect a stronger Christology. A literal translation of the Latin goes: “Go ye blessed and elect, [upon] the way of peace; for your sake the sacrifice has been remitted to God the Father.” The 3-stanza correction of this adds in the margins these references: to stanza 1, line 4, Psalm 17b; to stanza 2, line 1, Deut. 28:6; Matt. 5b; Rom. 8a; Eph. 3a.

Note that the melody is taken from the first “Kyrie eleison” of the Kyrie Missa V, Deus magnae potentiae. Interestingly, a translation of the Troped Kyrie Missa V also exists in the same hymnal, and was borrowed by Layriz as a seasonal Kyrie for Christmastide.

THE LORD our God and Maker bless

And keep us ever with His grace;

And His kingdom multiply

With powèr from on High.

2. The Lord our Savior, God divine,

Now make His holy face to shine

With His gracious, saving light

To scatter sin’s dark night.

3. The Lord our God the Holy Ghost

Lift up upon His gathered host,

His sweet countenance, nor cease

To give us perfect peace.

4. The Father who hath giv’n us breath,

The Son who saved us by His death,

And the gracious Spirit bless

The Church in every place.

Translation © Matthew Carver, 2012.

GO FORTH, ye Christian people blest,

And saints elect in Jesus Christ;

Go forth in joy and peace today,

God guide your every way.

2. Blest shalt thou be when coming in,

And blest when going out again.

And thine every deed be blest

Through our Lord Jesus Christ.

3. The same our Savior, God and King

To our true fatherland us bring,

To whom all praise and glory be

For all eternity.

Translation © Matthew Carver, 2012.

GERMAN

1. Der Herr unser Schöpfer und Gott,der segne uns mit seiner Gnad,und behüt uns allzugleichvermehr sein liebes Reich.
2. Der Herr unser Gott und Heiland,laß über uns leuchten allsamtsein heiliges Angesichtsein Gnad und Heiles Licht.
3. Der Herr Gott, der Heilge Geist,erheb über uns allermeistsein Angesicht voller Gütund geb uns seinen Fried.
4. Uns segne der Herr unser Gott,uns segne der Sohn durch sein Tod,segne des Geists Gütigkeit,die ganze Christenheit. 

*** 

1. Geht hin, die ihr gebenedeit, und in Christo auserwählt seid,geht hin mit Freuden in Fried,Er richt all euer Tritt.
2. Gesegnet ist euer Ausgang,gesegnet ist euer Eingang,gesegnet all euer Tun,durch Christum Gottes Sohn.
3. Derselb unser Herr und Heilandführ uns ein ins recht Vaterland,zu Lob und Ehr seim namenin Ewigkeit, Amen.

LATIN

1a. Ite,Benedicti et electi,viam pacis;pro vobisDeo patri hostiamissa est.

Ach Jesu, der du uns zugut

Here is my translation of the Candlemas/Purification hymn, “Ach Jesu, der du uns zugut” as found in the Strassburg Hymnal (766 Psalmen…, etc.). It is sung to the tune “Christum wir sollen loben schon.”

O JESUS, who, to set us free,

Wast born in utter poverty,

Laid in a manger for a cot,

And of Thy riches given naught:

2. In forty days Thou didst not scorn

Into the temple to be borne,

Where godly Simeon did hail

And hold Thee to his bosom frail.

3. What he awaited glad and fain

By Thee that day he did obtain,

And with his heart his God adored,

That he should live to see his Lord.

4. Then Anna, widow great of age

By many known a seeress sage,

Who of God’s Word was not ashamed,

Approached, and wondrous things proclaimed.

5. O Christ, assist Thy flock on earth

To be Thy children by new birth,

To turn to Thee with heart sincere,

Thy Spirit's teachings to revere.

6. Thy Word let be our constant guide,

That in Thy temple we abide,

Wherein we please Thee, where we praise

And give Thee thanks for all our days.

7. What in Thy Church we ask of Thee,

By Thee is granted faithfully;

O blest are they who meet Thee there

And never from her courtyards err.

8. All-holy Christ, be this our plea,

Who wast made Man, that men might be

Thy children in Thy holy name,

And ever Thee as Lord acclaim.

Translation © Matthew Carver, 2011.

GERMAN

Ach Jesu der du uns zugut

geborn bist in grosser Armut,

in einer Krippen gelegen,

hast wenig dein lassen pflegen.

2. Und hast dich nach vierzig Tagen

lassen in den Tempel tragen,

da Simeon der fromme Mann

dich auf sein alte Arme nam.

3. Was er vor langest hätt begehrt,

deß wird er jetzt von dir gewährt.

Drum preist er Gott aus Herzengrund,

daß er erlebt hätt solche Stund.

4. Ein Wittwe alt, Anna genannt,

ein Prophetin vielen bekannt,

die Gottes Wort fleissig anhing,

trat auch hinzu, redt grosse Ding.

5. Hilf, Christe, deim Volk auf Erden,

daß wir geistlich Kinder werden,

und uns zu dir herzlich bekehrn,

und deinen Geist uns lassen lehrn.

6. Und daß dein Wort uns stets regier,

und immer zu deim Tempel führ,

in welchem man dir behaget

dich lobet und dir danksaget.

7. Recht alles was man da begehrt

wird uns treulich von dir gewährt;

O selig der, so in dein Haus

kommt und fällt nicht wieder heraus.

8. Das hilf uns, du viel heilger Christ,

denn du darum Mensch worden bist,

daß uns in deim heilgen Namen

geholfen werd ewig! Amen.

Was uns etwan die heilgen Propheten

Here is my translation of a German version of “Quod chorus vatum,” called “Was uns etwan die heilgen Propheten” (A. Lobwasser, author of the infamous psalter). It is sung to the original melody, which I have seen as that of “Iste Confessor” [He Whom the Prophets], though Herzliebster Jesu would work. This page has more information on the original version as well as an English (unrhymed) translation of it.

WHAT PROPHETS in the Spirit once had spoken

Now we behold fulfilled, the oath unbroken,

By Virgin Mary comes the revelation

Of our salvation.

2. Conceiving Christ, the Son of God, our Savior,

Without a spot or breach of honor ever,

Pure she remained, as even from her mother,—

Such as no other.

3. They took the Child and to the temple brought Him,

To aged Simèon, who long had sought Him.

The priest received the Child with gladness willing,

God’s oath fulfilling.

4. And so with fervent hearts, we pray Thee, Savior,

True Son of God, to show Thy grace and favor;

Let us, e’en as Thou art to heav’n ascended,

E’er be defended.

Translation © Matthew Carver, 2012.

GERMAN

1. Was uns etwan die heiligen Propheten

durch den Heiligen Geist weißsagen täten,

Daß solches durch Mariam sei geschehen,

Wir nun verstehen.

2. Denn sie empfangen hat Christum den Herren,

Gottes Sohn ohn Abbruch ihrer Ehren,

ein Jungfrau blieb sie wei da war zu voren

der Welt geboren.

3. Da man mit diesem Kind in Tempel kame,

Fröhlich es Simeon in die Arm nahme,

Das wie er hätt gewünscht das Kind zu sehen

nun wär geschehen.

4. Drum bitten wir dich Gottes Sohne brünstig,

daß du uns wöllest gnädig sein und günstig,

und uns, weil du gen Himmel bist gefahren,

treulich bewahren.

Das alte Jahr vergangen ist* Original Tune

In case anyone is interested in using the original tune for "The Old Year Now Hath Passed Away" for the office of New Year's Eve or New Year's Day (not to be confused with the Feast of the Circumcision), here it is in a setting by Layriz, along with the text as translated by Winkworth, which is in the public domain.

THE OLD year now hath passed away; 

We thank Thee, O our God, today 

That Thou hast kept us through the year 

When danger and distress were near.

2. We pray Thee, O eternal Son, 

Who with the Father reign’st as One, 

To guard and rule Thy Christendom 

Through all the ages yet to come.

3. Take not Thy saving Word away, 

Our souls’ true comfort, staff, and stay. 

Abide with us and keep us free 

From errors, following only Thee.

4. Oh, help us to forsake all sin, 

A new and holier course begin! 

Mark not what once was done amiss; 

A happier, better year be this,

5. Wherein as Christians we may live 

Or die in peace that 

Thou canst give, 

To rise again when Thou shalt come 

And enter Thine eternal home.

6. There shall we thank Thee and adore 

With all the angels evermore. 

Lord Jesus Christ, increase our faith 

To praise Thy Name through life and death.

—J. Steuerlein, 1588; tr. C. Winkworth, 1863.