Ich dank dir, Gott mein Herr

Here is my translation of the psalm paraphrase, “Ich dank dir, Gott mein Herr” (Burkard Waldis, d. 1556), based on Psalm CXXXVIII, Confitebor tibi, with title “A psalm of thanksgiving for the Holy Gospel, which God so mightily preserves among and against the foe.” This is Waldis’s first of two paraphrases of this psalm, evincing a looser treatment informed more by the time and circumstances of Waldis’s work during the Reformation. The second paraphrase will show closer adherence to the base text. In today’s hymn, Waldis’s Mixolydian melody follows the meter 64.27.64.27.82.827 (ABBCADDCEEFFC) betrays his occasional penchant for short, 2-syllable lines or part-lines. Heugel’s Tenor line is missing. I give the melody transposed down a step.

 

 

TO Thee be all acclaim,
O Lord above! / I love
Thy praises to be singing;
The glory of Thy name
Doth loud resound / All round,
And joyfully is ringing.
That we through Christ and His dear Word / We’ve heard,
Prevailed against the gate of hell; / It fell,
The vict’ry to us bringing.

2 On earth all kings upright
Give thanks to Thee, / To see
Thy Word now clearly sounding.
Upon Thy way all might,
Thy hand confers, / It stirs
To make Thy praise abounding.
God, when I call, then, hear my cry, / On high,
The Lord no lowly doth despise, / His eyes
Depise the proud, them hounding.

3 When I in trouble wake,
And foes aggress / And press,
Thou end’st my tribulation;
Thy hand their wrath dost take,
Nor dost Thou shirk / Thy work,
But bring’st a great salvation.
We pray Thee, Lord, Thy grace to send, / Defend
Thy kingdom which Thou dost erect; / Perfect
In us Thy consolation.

Translation © 2024 Matthew Carver.

GERMAN

Ich danck dir Gott mein HERR,
Für aller welt,
Mir gfelt,
Daß ich dein lob mög singen,
Weil jetz deins Namens Ehr,
Mit aller gwalt,
Erschallt,
Und frölich thut erklingen,
Daß wir durch Christum und sein wort,
Die pfort
Der hellen uberwunden han,
Nit kan
Uns Ewiglich verschlingen.

2 Auff erden all herrschafft,
Die dancken dir
Dafür,
Daß sie dein wort jetz hören,
Darzu gibst sterck und krafft,
Auff deinem weg,
Sichs reg
Zu lob und deinen ehren.
Drumb wann ich rüff, O Gott venrimm
Mein stimm,
Der HERR verschmecht den gringen nicht,
Und sicht
Den stoltzen auch von fernen.

3 Wann ich in trübniß bin,
Der feind mich zwingt,
Und dringt,
So thust mein ellend stillen,
Vil fehrlichkeyt nimbst hin,
Gibst hülff und sterck,
Deim werck,
Umb deines Namens willen.
Drumb bitten wir, HERR durch dein güt,
Behüt
Dein Reich welchs du angfangen hast,
Zu trost,
Ewig an uns erfüllen.