Allmächtiger, gütiger Gott

Here is my translation of the table prayer “Allmächtiger, gütiger Gott” (Boh. Brethren, 1533). Note the similarity to Luther’s table prayer quoting Psalm 145. Here it is expanded with the inclusion of a confession of sin. The melody is the proper, here from Kirchengeseng (1580).


ALMIGHTY Father, gracious God,
Eternal Lord of Sabaoth,
The eyes of all look unto Thee,
And Thou dost feed them graciously.

2. Thou openest Thy gen’rous hand,
And they rejoice in every land
Thy goodly blessings to receive,
And thanks to Thee with gladness give.

3. Our guilt, O Lord, we now confess:
There is in us no righteousness;
Poor, wretched sinners all are we,
And merit not Thy charity.

4. Have mercy on us, God and Lord,
And pardon for our sins afford;
Thy bounteous blessing grant, that we
May eat to our prosperity,

5. That of Thy gifts we may partake
With conscience clean, for Jesus’ sake,
Due praise to Thee may all accord;
This all we pray in Christ our Lord.

Translation © Matthew Carver, 2010.


“LW” style:
ALMIGHTY Father, gracious God,
Eternal Lord of Sabaoth,
The eyes of all look up to You;
You give them meat in season due.

2. You open wide Your gen’rous hand,
And they rejoice in every land
Your goodly blessings to receive,
And thanks to You with gladness give.

3. Our guilt, O Lord, we now confess:
There is in us no righteousness;
Poor, wretched sinners all are we,
And merit not Your charity.

4. Have mercy on us, God our Lord,
And pardon for our sins afford;
Your bounteous blessing grant, that we
May eat to our prosperity,

5. That of Your gifts we may partake
With conscience clean, for Jesus’ sake,
Due praise to You may all accord;
This all we pray in Christ our Lord.

Translation © Matthew Carver, 2010.

GERMAN

1. Allmächtiger, gütiger Gott,
du ewiger Herr Zebaoth,
aller Augen warten auf dich,
und du speisest sie gnädiglich.

2. Wenn du aufthust dein milde Hand,
so freuen sie sich allesamt,
geniessen deiner guten Gaben
Davon sie dich herzlich loben.

3. Wir geben uns schuldig, o Herr,
als arme elende Sünder,
und han keine Gerechtigkeit,
zu deiner grossen Gütigkeit.

4. Sei uns gnädig, O Herre Gott,
und verschon unser Missethat,
dein milder Segen bei uns sei,
daß uns die Speis zugut gedeih.

5. Aufdaß wir dieselb geniessen,
in rechten guten Gewissen,
zulob deim heiligen Namen,
in Christo dem Herren, Amen.