Ich hab ihn dennoch lieb

Here is my translation of the Jesus-hymn, “Ich hab ihn dennoch lieb (Anon., 1692), in NEGB #208 with melody assignment “O Gott, du frommer Gott”; originally appearing in A. Luppius’s Andächtig Singender Christen-Mund (Wesel, 1692) with title “Amor meus crucifixus [My Love is crucified]. M. Joh. Caspar Schad.” Yet, says Fischer, Schade is not the author: “The preface to our comprehensive collection of Schade’s hymns, published under the title Fasciculus Cantionum (Cüstrin, prob. 1699), says of the poet, ‘But as omne bonum communicativum sui—one should not reserve the good unto himself—therefore these things have compiled after his death, both because it was asked for and desired and that what was his might be viewed in one place, since hymns by others were attributed to the author some years ago, of which the sainted man himself gave notice in a preface to the 2nd part of said hymnal, published anno 1694 in octavo.’ The latter indication obviously refers to  Luppius’s hymnal cited above.” In other words, this hymn is erroneously ascribed to Schade.

 

I LOVE Him nonetheless,
And cling with faith untiring,—
He only my Delight,
He only my Desiring—
Though oft I sink and fall
From what to love is due,
Yet shall this not divide
That faithful love and true.

2 For had I but the pow’r
Which I would wish sincerely,
And were that wish fulfilled,
Which I regard most dearly,
I surely true would be
And pleasing in His eyes
And His in truth remain,—
He, my unequaled Prize.

3 To will is present, yes,
But oft an hour commences
When I find not the deed;
The spirit-driven senses
I see at war each day
With my own flesh and blood,
For I am still a child
In loving Christ my God.

4 And shall I be full-grown
Some day, some gracious hour,
How will I true remain,
With what more constant power,
To Him, my dearest Prize?
For Him, my great Desire
My heart shall kindled be
With right and holy fire.

5 Come, Lord, my soul inflame,
Inflame my very thinking,
Inflame my inmost heart
So shall I ne’er be sinking
From what to love is due;
Thy fire upon me pour
And I’ll be true to Thee,
My Dearest, evermore!

Translation © 2023 Matthew Carver.

GERMAN

Ich hab ihn dennoch lieb,
und bleibe an ihm hangen;
er einig meine Lust,
er einig mein Verlangen;
fall ich schon oftermal
aus meiner Liebespflicht;
so trennet solches doch
die treue Liebe nicht.

2 Denn hätt ich nur die Kraft,
die ich mir wünschen wollte,
wenn mein Wunsch nach Begier
erfüllet werden sollte;
gewiß, ich bliebe treu:
er sollte noch an mir
von Herzen sein vergnügt,
er meine höchste Zier.

3 Das Wollen und der Muth
sind da, obschon zu Zeiten [obgleich]
Vollbringen mangeln will:
drum seh ich täglich streiten
in mir mit Fleisch und Blut
den Geistgesinnten Sinn,
weil ich annoch ein Kind
in Christo liebe bin. [Christi Liebe]

4 Und werd ich dermaleins
zu meiner Mannheit kommen,
wie will ich ihm so treu
verbleiben meinem frommen
und allerbesten Schatz?
Ach, gegen ihn allein
soll in recht keuscher Brunst
mein Herz entzündet sein.

5 Komm, Jesu, zünde an, [Komm, Liebster…]
entzünde die Gedanken;
entzünde mir mein Herz:
so werd ich niemals wanken
aus meiner Liebespflicht:
entzünde gegen dich
mein Herz; so bleib ich treu
dir, Jesu, ewiglich. [dir, Liebster…]