Herr Jesu, sei gepriesen*

Here is my new translation of the hymn “Herr Jesu, sei gepriesen” (L. Laurentii, 1700), from the author’s Evangelia Melodica for Trinity XII (no. 2), which I translated in 2015 as “Lord Jesus, Now and Ever” (reproduced below for comparison). This time I attempted to avoid repeating any rhyme pair.

Mel.: Nun laßt uns Gott den Herren.

LORD Jesus, praise I owe Thee
For all That Thou dost show me,
And all Thy blessings holy
To me, Thy creature lowly.

2 For many years I ever
Have seen Thy love and favor,
Unfath’mable I feel it,
Nor can I well conceal it!

3 Deaf, dumb, and all unseeing—
Indeed, a sinful being,
I was by love embracèd,
And with Thy mercy gracèd.

4 While I in youth was growing,
And yet no virtue knowing
Thou mad’st me walk beside Thee,
When Thee I fled, and tried Thee.

5 Always Thy hand constrained me,
Directed and sustained me;
Thus now I praise Thy merit
With lips and heart and spirit.

6 Oft when some sin o’ertook me,
Thou didst in patience brook me,
Thy love its glances gave me,
From Satan’s snare did save me.

7 Thou hast giv’n drink and fed me,
Thus on life’s journey sped me,
By grace made all to flourish
That soul and body nourish.

8 I never was forsaken,
These pilgrim ways I’ve taken;
All troubles that offended
I have to Thee commended.

9 As long as I am living,
Thou must still must me be giving
Whate’er my need requireth;
All from Thy hand transpireth.

10 Yet for my soul be granting
The gifts where I am wanting,
For in no earthly treasure
Can I find better pleasure.

11 And when comes my last morrow,
Let me Thy cross and sorrow
As my true comfort cherish;
So let me never perish.

12 Thou hast till now watched o’er me,
Hast all things done well for me;
Thy name, Lord, be adorèd
For all Thy gifts outpourèd!

13 When I shall stand before Thee
Oh, then I will adore Thee
And Thou with praise be blessèd
By no man here expressèd.

14 Meanwhile I will be singing
My off’ring to Thee bringing,
Thy name adore each hour
With all my strength and power.

Translation © 2025 Matthew Carver.

M. CARVER (2015):

Lord Jesus, now and ever
Be praised for all Thy favor
Which Thou in life hast shown me,
Though wretched Thou hast known me.

2 For many years I’ve wended,
By such dear love attended—
No words can e’er assess it,
Nor yet can I suppress it.

3 In deafness, dumbness, blindness
I’ve felt Thy pitying kindness;
Though foul with sin it found me,
Thy mercy flooded round me.

4 In youth, when I was straying,
My stubborn will obeying,
Thou didst with help provide me
And ever homeward guide me.

5 Thy hand hath held me tightly,
Hath governed ever rightly,
So now I bow before Thee,
With heart and mouth adore Thee.

6 Though often I offended,
Thy patience never ended,
Thy tender glances knew me,
From Satan’s cords withdrew me.

7 Thou food and drink hast lent me
And on life’s journey sent me,
Both soul and body speeded
With sustenance most needed.

8 I’ve never been forsaken
On pilgrim ways I’ve taken,
For always I’ve commended
To Thee whate’er impended.

9 Until my life is waning
Thy hand will be sustaining,
My ev’ry need addressing—
All is Thy gift and blessing.

10 Where gifts I lack, Lord, grant them
And in my soul implant them,
For there’s no earthly treasure
Can give me truer pleasure.

11 When I from those I cherish
Must go, let me not perish,
But let Thy cross and passion
My soul relieve and freshen.

12 Thou who hast watched and tended,
And all things well hast mended,
Thy name be praised to heaven
For all Thy graces given!

13 When in that life I hail Thee,
With praises I’ll regale Thee,
With peals of acclamation
As here defy expression.

14 Yet meanwhile, lowly singing,
My off’ring to Thee bringing,
Thy name, though not yet seeing,
I’ll praise with all my being.

Translation © 2015 Matthew Carver.

GERMAN

Herr Jesu, sei gepriesen
für den, was du erwiesen,
und was du hast gegeben
mir Armen in dem Leben.

2 Ich hab in vielen Jahren
dein Huld und Lieb erfahren,
die ich nicht weiß zu zählen,
doch kann ichs nicht verhehlen.

3 Ich tauber, stumm und blinder,
ja, ich elender Sünder,
bin von der Lieb umarmet,
die meiner sich erbarmet.

4 Du hast mich in der Jugend,
da ich noch war ohn Tugend,
gegängelt und gezogen,
wenn ich von dir geflogen.

5 Dein Hand hat mich regieret,
und immer wohl geführet,
dies preis ich noch zur Stunde
mit Herzen und mit Munde.

6 Wenn ich mich hab verschuldet,
hast du mich doch geduldet,
und oft durch Liebesblicke
geführt aus Satans Stricke.

7 Du hast mir Trank und Speise
auf dieser Lebensreise
gegeben, und bescheret,
was Leib und Seel ernähret.

8 Ich bin noch nie verlassen,
auf diesen Pilgramsstrassen,
weil ich stets unverhohlen,
dir hab die Noth befohlen.

9 Solang ich werde leben,
mußt du mir ferner geben,
was ich vonnöthen habe,
weil alles deine Gabe.

10 Gib mir an meiner Seelen,
die Gaben, die mir fehlen,
weil ich an keinen Schätzen
mich besser kann ergetzen.

11 Und wenn ich soll abscheiden,
so laß dein Kreuz und Leiden
mein Labsal sein im Sterben,
und laß mich nicht verderben.

12 Der du bisher gewachet,
und alles wohl gemachet,
dein Name sei erhaben,
für alle deinen Gaben.

13 Komm ich in jenes Leben,
so will ich dich erheben,
und in das Lob anbrechen,
das hier nicht auszusprechen.

14 Inzwischen will ich singen,
und dir mein Opfer bringen,
und preisen deinen Namen,
nach allen Kräften. Amen!