Da Jacob aus Ägypten zog

Here is my translation of the psalm paraphrase, “Da Jacob aus Ägypten zog” (Burkard Waldis, d. 1556), based on Psalm CXIV, In exitu Israel, with title “Psalm of thanksgiving for the miraculous provision, help, and blessing of God.”  The Hypodorian melody by Waldis follows the meter 87.87.44.77. I give the melody transposed down slightly, though the original key should be doable for most.

 

 

WHEN Jacob went from Egypt’s land,
Th’ ungodly heathen flying,
And Isr’el from the tyrants’ hand
Escaped by God’s supplying,
God chose his race / and in His grace
Made him His own possession,
And favored Judah’s nation.

2 The sea this saw and fled away,
The Jordan back was driven,
The mountains could not moveless stay,
But skipped and sprang toward heaven,
The little hills / with rocks and rills
Like little sheep went leaping,
At God, His promise keeping.

3 Then say, O sea, what did thee ail,
That thou didst flee as riven;
Why, Jordan, did thy waters fail,
That back thou thus wast driven?
Why, mountains and / thou hilly land
Like rams and sheep go leaping,
At God, His promise keeping?

4 Thus even heav’n and earth in fear
At Jacob’s God must tremble,
And water fountains great appear
And from the rock must tumble,
Just as God hath / brought us to faith
And life through Christ our Savior
O’erthrowing death forever.

¶ To God for wondrous grace our praise
We give, and adoration,
And pray Him keep from erring ways
The church, His chosen nation;
And o’er us reign / and faith sustain
By God the Holy Spirit,
That we may life inherit.

Translation © 2024 Matthew Carver.

GERMAN

Da Jacob auß Egypten zoch,
Von den Gottlosen heyden,
Israel die Tyrannen floch,
Sich von in abzuscheyden,
Da ward erwelt / und zugezelt,
Israel Gottes eygen,
Wolt Juda gnad erzeygen.

2 Das sah das Meer und floh davon,
Der Jordan ging zurücke,
Die berg nicht kundten stille ston,
Hupfften wie lemmer böcke.
Die hügel kleyn / und grosse steyn,
Sprungen wie junge schaffe,
Für Gott und seiner straffe.

3 Sag an du Meer, wer dir hat than,
Das du so mochtest fliehen,
Du starcke wasser im Jordan,
Zurucke mußtest ziehen.
Ir berg auff hupfft, / ir hügel lupfft,
Wie böck und junge schaffe,
Für Gott und seiner straffe?

4 So must auch himel und die erd,
Für dem Gott Jacob beben,
Die harten felsen unbeschwert,
Groß wasserbrunnen geben.
Dermaß uns Gott / durch Christum hat
Zum leben wöllen füren,
Todt, sünd und hell verstören.

¶ Für solche wunder grosse gnad
Sölln wirn loben und dancken,
Bitten, Welch Er beruffen hat,
Von im nit laß abwancken.
Sondern erhalt, / daß nit erkalt
Der glaub in diesem leben,
Sein geyst müß uns erheben.