Here is my translation of one of the older German Benedictus hymns, “Gebenedeit sei Gott der Herr,” (J. Englisch, 1530) a staple of the early Straßburg hymnals. The proper tune is by the author; note the striking similarity between its opening line and that of Luther’s own canticle-based hymn, “Mit Fried und Freud ich fahr dahin” published only 6 years earlier in Wittenberg.
BLEST be the God of Israel,
Who visited and sought us,
His lowly flock in sin that fell,
And true redemption brought us:
Of David’s seed / Raised high indeed
The Horn of heav’nly blessing:
And sent His call / To sinners all,
Both near and far addressing.
2. In days of yore this oath He swore
And through His prophets gave us
The promise of His plan before
From every ill to save us,
Yea, from all foes / And mortal woes,
And hands of those that hate us.
His gracious word / The fathers heard
That He would not forget us.
3. His covenant with Abraham
He hath remembered ever,
Which He gave us, our own to claim,
That, rescued by our Savior
From out the hands / Of hostile bands,
We might serve and adore Him
In godly fear, / To Him draw near,
And dwell as saints before Him.
4. Thy name, O blessed child, shall be
God’s prophet to His nation,
For thou shalt speak to man, that he
May find in Christ salvation,
And shalt prepare / A pathway fair
Of sorrow and repentance
That he, forgiv’n / Of all his sin,
May hear a gracious sentence.
5. He by His mercy wrought all this,
And so the Dayspring lighted,
Wherein we find our hope and bliss
Who once had been benighted
In error’s gloom / And pangs of doom,
Nor could relieve our sadness:
Now on the way / We shall not stray
But walk in peace and gladness.
Translation © Matthew Carver, 2011.
GERMAN
Who visited and sought us,
His lowly flock in sin that fell,
And true redemption brought us:
Of David’s seed / Raised high indeed
The Horn of heav’nly blessing:
And sent His call / To sinners all,
Both near and far addressing.
2. In days of yore this oath He swore
And through His prophets gave us
The promise of His plan before
From every ill to save us,
Yea, from all foes / And mortal woes,
And hands of those that hate us.
His gracious word / The fathers heard
That He would not forget us.
3. His covenant with Abraham
He hath remembered ever,
Which He gave us, our own to claim,
That, rescued by our Savior
From out the hands / Of hostile bands,
We might serve and adore Him
In godly fear, / To Him draw near,
And dwell as saints before Him.
4. Thy name, O blessed child, shall be
God’s prophet to His nation,
For thou shalt speak to man, that he
May find in Christ salvation,
And shalt prepare / A pathway fair
Of sorrow and repentance
That he, forgiv’n / Of all his sin,
May hear a gracious sentence.
5. He by His mercy wrought all this,
And so the Dayspring lighted,
Wherein we find our hope and bliss
Who once had been benighted
In error’s gloom / And pangs of doom,
Nor could relieve our sadness:
Now on the way / We shall not stray
But walk in peace and gladness.
Translation © Matthew Carver, 2011.
GERMAN
1. Gebenedeit sei Gott der Herr
des Israels der höchste!
Der hat besucht und gschicket her,
das er sein Volk erlöste,
hat aufgericht,
wie man jetzt siecht,
von Davids Haus das Horen
der Seligkeit
den Sündern breit,
die darzu sind erkoren.
2. Vor langer Zeit hats zugeseit
durch den Mund der Propheten,
zu retten sie ist er bereit
von den Feinden aus Nöten,
vons Hassers Hand,
sie allesamt,
wie er dann hat v[er]heissen,
Barmerzigkeit
weit ausgebreit,
den Vätern ists geleistet.
3. Er hat gedacht an seinen Bund
dem Abraham geschworen,
dadurch dann auch ein jed kund,
von Gott aus Furcht erkoren
von Feindes Kraft,
an Gott behaft,
mit heilger Furchte streben
in grechtem Sinn
ganz frei dahin,
dieweil er hat das Leben.
4. Und du, viel seligs Kindelein,
wirst Gotts Prophet genennet,
dann sein Vorgänger sollt du sein,
aufdaß er werd erkennet,
zur Seligkeit
auch werd bereit,
sein Volk dahin die Stroße,
wenn er hinlat
ihr Missethat,
mach sie so quitt und lose.
5. Durch sein Barmherzigkeit das gschicht,
die Obenrab sich leitet,
Darin gar bald den Trost ersiecht,
der jämmrlich lag gespreitet,
in Finsternis
und Todes Biß,
darin so gar ohn Müte,
drum unser Füß
nimm schlüpfen müß
aus Friedens Strassen Güte.
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