Here is my translation of the hymn “Führe mich auf deinen Wegen” (J. Olearius, 1671), appointed in the author’s Singekunst for Trinity V (Gospel), with a few extra lines unexplained, which are removed in later editions, which originate as the ending of the lyric in its earlier form as a rhymed devotional prayer. Olearius gives optional melodies “Werde munter” or “Freu dich sehr” and the curious note “The last melody is repeated,” which might mean the last lines of the melody are repeated to accommodate the extra lines. Perhaps the extra lines were inadvertently left in the MS, and the printer is responsible for the note. In any case, later editions, as said, omit these.
The stanza resembles stanza 6 of Olearius’s 1684 hymn “Jesus selbst, mein Licht, mein Leben”:
Führe mich auf deinen Wegen,
gieb mir deinen guten Geist,
der mir Hülf und Beistand leist;
laß mich deine Gnad und Segen
stets empfinden früh und spat,
segne Denken, Wort und That.
Which in Kretzmann’s translation (see Walther’s Hymnal, no. 275, p. 219), beginning “Christ Himself, My Pride and Glory” runs:
Grant me, Lord, Thy Holy Spirit,
That in all I follow Him
Lest the light of faith grow dim;
Let me ever trust Thy merit,
Let Thy blessing me attend,
From all evil me defend.
Mel.: Werde munter, mein Gemüthe
ON Thy ways, my Savior, guide me,
And Thy Holy Spirit give,
Grace and blessing to provide me,
Helping every hour I live,
That I may, to sin opposed,
Give Thee praise till life be closed,
With right faith and Christian living,
Blessed death in Thee receiving.
[To Thy glory ever living,
Jesus, this to me be giving!
This shalt Thou be ever giving.]
Translation © 2025 Matthew Carver.
GERMAN
Führe mich auf deinen Wegen,
laß mich deinen guten Geist
leiten, deine Gnad und Segen
früh und spat mir Beistand leist,
daß ich aller Sünden feind,
der dein Ehre herzlich meint,
kann recht gläuben, Christlich leben,
selig sterben, dir ergeben,
[dir zu Ehren ewig leben,
Jesu, das wollstu mir geben,
das wirst du mir ewig geben. Amen.]
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