Danket dem Herrn, und lasst euch lehrn

 Here is my translation of the psalm paraphrase, “Danket dem Herrn, und laßt euch lehrn” (Burkard Waldis, d. 1556), based on Psalm CXXXVI, Confitemini Domino, with title “A psalm of thanksgiving, to trust in God, who has always so graciously helped, and still does, in the utmost need.” The melody by Waldis carries the meter 448.448.88.448, with lines 6 and 11 featuring a repeated refrain, echoing that of the original Psalm text.

 

THANKS to the Lord / your God afford,
Learn just how good and kind is He
His works show bright / His strength and might,
His mercy lasts eternally!
High o’er the gods of every land,
He holds all rule within His hand.
Thanks from your heart / to Him impart:
His mercy lasts eternally!

2 He made dark, light, / and day and night,
The heav’nly lights that waver,
The earth and sea / spread mightily
His mercy lasts eternally!
The two great lamps, the sun and moon
The skies with shining stars hath strewn,
Which all declare / His wonders rare.
His mercy lasts eternally!

3 He Isr’el sought / and forth them brought,
From Egypt’s bondage mightily;
The firstborn killed, / with fear men filled:
His mercy lasts eternally!
His mighty hand led wondrously
That favored host through the Red Sea,
Therein He cast / Pharaoh at last,
His mercy lasts eternally!

4 They free did pass / through wilderness,
And in His generosity
God stilled their dread / with heav’nly bread,
His mercy lasts eternally!
Great kings He struck down by His pow’r,
Slew nations, made the peoples cow’r,
And put the land / in Isr’el’s hand,
His mercy lasts eternally!

5 Of grace He thought, / His people brought
To peace and joy and victory;
Out of their woe / He bade them go,
His mercy lasts eternally!
All flesh with sust’nance he supplies,
Alone He’s holy, good, and wise.
O’er all He reigns, / all things sustains.
His mercy lasts eternally!

6 As He before / in days of yore
And showed them boundless clemency;
So will He now / such grace endow,
His mercy lasts eternally!
Therefore give thanks in heaven high,
Receive His Word, be ruled thereby,
Who there confides / in Him abides.
His mercy lasts eternally!

Translation © 2024 Matthew Carver.

GERMAN
Dancket dem HERRN, / und laßt euch lern,
Wie Er so gut und gantz freuntlich,
In seinem werck, / spürt man sein sterck,
Dann seine gut wert ewiglich,
Er ist ubr alle götter Gott,
Alln gwalt in seinen henden hat,
Dem dancken wir, / auß hertzengir,
Dann seine güt wert Ewiglich.

2 Er hat gemacht / beyd tag und nacht,
Die himel so gar ordenlich,
Die Erd bereyt / auffs wasser breyt,
Dann seine gut wert Ewiglich,
Zwey grosse liechter, / Sonn und mon,
Und daß die Stern leuchten so schon,
Damit gibt bloß / sein wunder groß,
Dann seine güt wert Ewiglich.

3 Bei Israel, thet Er gar viel,
Furts auß Egypten gwaltiglich,
Die erstgeburt / mit schrecken rurt,
Dann seine güt wert Ewiglich.
Sein mechtig handt dasselbig heer,
Fürt gwaltiglich durchs rote Meer,
Pharo drein stieß, / das leben ließ,
Dann seine güt wert Ewiglich.

4 In der wüstnei / furt Er sie frei,
Und speiset sie gar miltiglich,
In irer not / mit himelbrot,
Dann seine güt wert Ewiglich.
Vil König Er durch seine macht,
Vor in verschlug, und gar umbbracht,
Gab in das landt / in ire handt,
Dann seine güt wert Ewiglich.

5 Und Er gedacht / und sein volck bracht
Zu ruw mit ehrn gar freudenreich,
Auß irem leyd / hat sie gefreit,
Dann seine güt wert Ewiglich,
Der allem fleysch gibt seine speiß,
Er ist alleyn gut, heylig, weiß,
Der alle welt / regiert, erhelt,
Dann seine güt wert Ewiglich.

6 Wie Er zu forn / vor alten jarn,
Gehandelt hat gar gnediglich,
So wil Er nun / bei uns auch thun,
Dann seine güt wert Ewiglich.
Drumb dancket im im himel hoch,
Glaubt an sein Wort, richt euch darnoch,
Wer ghorcht seinr stimm, / der bleibt in im,
Dann seine güt wert Ewiglich.