Die Juden rühmten heftig sehr

Here is my translation of the hymn, “Die Juden rühmten heftig sehr” (N. Herman, 1561), from the author’s Sonntags-Evangelia (final stanza from later edd.) for Judica Sunday. Gesius 1605 appoints and provides a 4-voice setting of Greitter’s “Aus tiefer Noth,” a.k.a. “Herr, wie du willt” or “Du Lebensbrot.” He had already used Luther’s “Aus tiefer Noth” on Invocavit for Herman’s “Bald da Jesus getaufet wurd.”

Mel.: Aus tiefer Noth schrei ich zu dir (Greitter).

 

THE Jews did boast exceedingly

And wished to be acclaimèd

As Abraham’s true progeny,

But Christ their boasting shamèd.

They called Him a Samaritan,

A sinner and bedeviled man;

So Jesus thus responded:

 

2 No man for sin can censure Me

Nor fault My life and teaching.

Thus Jesus spoke in manner free:

Since true is all My preaching,

Why do ye yet not Me believe,

Nor will My doctrine true receive,

And thus refuse to hear Me?

3 Since ye are not of God, His Word

No man among you heareth;

To this replied the Jewish horde:

The devil ’tis Thee steereth!

Say we not well and truthfully

Thou hast a devil guiding Thee,

And seekest Thy own glory?

4 I have no devil, Jesus said,

But I My Father honor;

He will My honor show instead,

Although ye Me dishonor.

I tell you truly, whosoe’er

Shall keep My Word, that man shall ne’er

A bitter death be seeing.

5 It vexed the Jews that word to hear;

They said: Now we know surely

The devil, Thy companion dear,

Must rule Thy senses purely.

The prophets all, and Abr’ham too,

Could not resist death’s mast’ry true,

But all of death have tasted.

6 How shall Thy Word then have the pow’r

That, they therein confiding

Shall not taste death at any hour,

But be in life abiding?

Art Thou than Abr’ham greater then?

Whom makest Thou Thyself? O’er men

Thou giv’st Thyself all honor!

7 Dear Abraham hoped for My day

With heartfelt expectation,

And saw it (hear ye what I say)

Great was his jubilation!

Then said the Jews with doubtful groan:

How hast Thou Abr’ham seen and known?

Thou art of years not fifty!

8 Then Christ replied: Ere Abraham

Began in life existing—

Yea, long before that time, I AM.

The Jews in sin persisting,

Then took up stones, at Him to cast,

But Jesus, hiding, through them passed,

And went out of the Temple.

*9 Lord Jesus, let all bishops be

Assured of Thy true speaking,

And all offense avoid and flee,

No selfish glory seeking;

But let them stop the mouths of those

That would Thy church with lies oppose,

And make of her great havoc.

Translation © 2026 Matthew Carver.

GERMAN

Die Juden rühmten heftig sehr,

und wollens hoch aufmutzen,

daß Abraham ihr Vater wär,

Christ aber straf ihr Trutzen,

drum mußt er sein ihr Samarit,

ein Sünder, den der Teufel ritt,

drauf Jesus zu ihn saget.

2 Trotz eim der mich einer Sünd zeih,

mein Lehr und Leben strafe,

er trät herfür, und sagets frei,

weil ich die Wahrheit sage,

wie daß ihr mir kein Glauben gebt,

und meiner Lehr so widerstrebt,

und wollt mich schlechts nicht hören.

3 Das machts, daß ihr seid nit von Gott,

drum ihr sein Wort nicht höret.

Drauf antwort ihm die Jüdisch ott:

Der Teufel dich bethöret,

darum nicht Unrecht sagen wir,

daß du den Teufel hast bei dir,

und suchst dein Ruhm und Ehre.

4 Ich hab kein Teufel, Christus sprach,

Gott mein Vater ich ehre,

der wird mein Ehr bringen an Tag,

ob ihr gleich schändt mein Lehre.

Wahrlich wer mein Wort festiglich,

wird halten, der soll ewiglich

den bittern Tod nicht sehen.

5 Die Red die Jüden sehr verdroß,

sprachen: Jetzt wir recht merken,

daß der Teufel dein Hausgenoß,

dich in deim Sinn muß stärken,

all Propheten des Todsgewalt,

auch Abraham selb gleicher Gstalt,

sich nicht haben erwehret.

6 Wie sollt dein Wort denn han die Kraft,

daß, wer sich drauf verließe,

an dem der Tod soll han kein Haft,

und sein des Lebens gwisse,

bist du denn mehr denn Abraham?

Zu großer Ehr maßt du dich an,

was machst du aus dir selber?

7 Abraham euer Vater zwar,

auf mein Tag hoffet sehre;

da er ihn sah, glaubt mir fürwahr,

freut er sich noch viel mehre,

drauf sprachen die Juden zuhand:

Wie hast du Abraham gekannt?

Du bist nicht fünfzig Jahre.

8 Drauf antwort Jesus, Gottes Sohn:

Eh denn Abraham ware,

für derselben Zeit bin ich schon.

Da hub der Juden Schare

Stein auf, und wolltn ihn werfen thun,

Jesus aber verbarg sich nun,

und aus dem Tempel ginge.

*9 Hilf, Herr Christ, daß ja sind gewiß

die Bischof ihrer Lehre,

und sich hüten für Ärgernis,

suchen nicht Ruhm noch Ehre,

daß sies Maul können stopfen zu,

den Widersachern, die Unruh
in der Kirchen anrichten. 

Schau, lieber Gott, wie meine Feind & Laß, Vater, deinen guten Geist.

Here is my translation of the sanctification (Christian warfare) hymn “Schau, lieber Gott, wie meine Feind” (David Denicke, d. 1680), which is included in Ev.-Luth. Gsb #426 as a cento of the last 4 stanzas (after Rambach’s precedent) beginning “Laß, Vater, deinen guten Geist.” According to Fischer, the first 8 stanzas appear in the New Ordentlich Gsb (Braunschweig, 1648). It was revised and expanded by Georg Heine of Halle, according to Grischow-Kirchner’s Nachricht, and in such form published in his Christ erbauliche Lieder (1693). Rambach published the last 4 stanzas alone (with slightly altered first line). I take my text from Crüger’s Praxis, ed. 1674, which has the title: “Against the three spiritual enemies.” A quote of stanza 7 in Moller’s festival sermons from 1671 begins “Laß, Jesu, deinen guten Geist” and emphasizes the 4 Last Things referenced at the end. of the stanza. The appointed melody is universally “Herr, wie du willst.”

 

BEHOLD, O God, how all my foes
With whom I am embroilèd
So craftily around me close
To see me crushed and spoilèd!
Unless Thy grace upholds me, Lord,
The devil, flesh, and worldly horde
In sin can swiftly plunge me.

2 The devil may by guile begin
At first to draw me sweetly;
Then, when my hand hath done the sin,
He numbs the heart completely;
With fraud and violence he drives
From sin to sin, till one arrives
At last in hell’s dominion.

3 The worldly brood, as well we know,
Too easily provoketh
The lust of eyes and flesh, and so
The pride of life it stoketh;
But when the wrath of God descends,
They scatter to the farthest ends,
And all their friendship ceaseth.

4 And yet my flesh and blood will not
Release their hold so lightly
On things which only harm have brought;
The world they hate not rightly;
They to its passing pleasures run,
Therefore they would not have me shun
The net and snare of Satan.

5 Now I, poor wretch, must e’er contend
With all these foes that hound me,
Who every moment me offend,
At every turn surround me:
The devil is my vicious foe,
The world no peace would let me know,
My flesh to sin incites me.

6 O faithful God, to Thee I flee!
My pow’rs can best them never;
Help, Father, in this misery
For Jesus’ sake, my Savior;
Empow’r me by the Holy Ghost,
The guile and works of all their host
At last to leave in ruins.

7 Dear Father, let Thy Spirit fill
My heart and mind, and rule me,
That I may always do Thy will
Nor let deceptions fool me;
That evil I may ever fight
And never to the left or right,
Lord, from Thy way may wander.

8 Though evil passion tempteth me
Oft while I yet am living,
Let me resist it instantly,
Thy help all swiftly giving,
And let me nevermore forget
The hour of death that cometh yet,
The Judgment, hell, and heaven.

9 Lord, let me ever keep in mind
These Last Things I’ll be meeting,
And so my feeble heart unbind
From all sin’s pleasure fleeting,
That, serving Thee, I run my course,
Without all fear, nor yet by force,
In Thy obedience willing.

10 God, Father, let me richly know
Thy faithfulness and power!
O Jesus Christ, Thy strength bestow
To overcome each hour-.
Help, Holy Ghost, in this campaign,
That I may ever vict’ry gain
Yea, vict’ry after vict’ry!

Translation © 2023 Matthew Carver.

GERMAN

*Schau, lieber Gott, wie meine Feind,
damit ich stets muß kämpfen,
so listig und so mächtig seind,
daß sie mich leichtlich dämpfen!
Herr, wo mich deine Gnad nicht hält,
so kann der Teufel, Fleisch und Welt
mich leicht in Sünde stürzen.

2 Der Satanas mit seiner List
im anfang gar süß locket
drauf wenn die Sünd begangen ist
das Herze er verstocket :
er treibt mit Trug und mit Gewalt
von einer Sünd zur andern bald
und endlich in die Hölle

3 Der Welt Art ist auch wohl bewußt
wie die kann Anlaß geben
zu Augenlust und Fleischeslust
zu hoffärtigem leben.
Wenn aber Gottes Zorn angeht
ein jeder da zurücke steht,
die Freundschaft hat eine Ende.
    
4 Und dennoch will mein Fleisch und Blut
von dem ungerne lassen
was ihm so grossen Schaden thut
es will die Welt nicht hassen:
die kurze Freud gefällt ihm wohl
drum wills nicht, daß ich meiden soll
des Teufels Netz und Stricke.

5 Nun muß ich armer immerfort
mit diesen Feinden streiten :
sie ängsten mich an allem Ort
und seyn mir stets zu Seiten,
der Satan setzt mir hefftig zu
der Welt läß t mir gar keine Ruh
mein Fleisch zur Sünde mich reizet.

6 Zu dir flieh ich, o treuer Gott,
ich weiß sie nicht zu stillen:
hilf, Vater , hilf in dieser Noth
um Jesu Christi Willen
verlieh mir deines Geistes Stärke
daß meiner Feinde List und Werke
dadurch zerstöret werde.

7 (1) Laß, Vater, deinen guten Geist [Laß diesen…]
mich innerlich regieren,
daß ich allzeit thu, was du heißt,
und mich nicht laß verführen,
daß ich dem Argen widersteh
und nicht von deinem Weg abgeh
zur Rechten oder Linken.

8 (2) Ob böse Lust noch mannigfalt
mich anficht, weil ich lebe,
so hilf, daß ich ihr alsobald
im Anfang widerstrebe,
und daß ich ja vergesse nicht
die Todesstunde, das Gericht,
den Himmel und die Hölle.

9 (3) Gieb, daß ich denke jederzeit
an diese letzten Dinge
und dadurch alle Sündenfreud
aus meinem Herzen bringe,
damit ich mög mien Lebenlang
dir dienen ohne Furcht und Zwang
in willigem Gehorsam.

10 (4) Gott Vater, deine Kraft und Treu
laß reichlich mich empfinden.
O Jesu Christe, steh mir bei,
daß ich könn überwinden.
Hilf, heilger Geist, in diesem Krieg,
daß ich da immer einen Sieg
erhalte nach dem andern.

Halt im Gedächtnis Jesum Christ

Here is my supplemental translation (sts. 5–6) and alteration (lines 5–6 of each st.) of J. T. Mueller’s translation (Selah Song Book, 1920) of the Redeemer hymn (based on 1 Tim. 3:8), “halt im Gedächtnis Jesum Christ” (Cyriakus Günther, d. 1704), as found in Ev.-Luth. Gesangbuch #212, and first appearing posthumously in Freylinghausen 1714 with the melody “Sei Lob und Ehr dem höchsten Gut,” but in the Wisc. hymnal with “Herr, wie du willt, so schicks mit mir.”

HOLD in remembrance Christ the Lord,
Thy ever precious Savior;
Who came from heav’n, incarnate Word,
To be Thy Brother ever.
Forget it not: ’twas for thy good
That He took on thy flesh and blood:
O bless His love forever!

2 Hold in remembrance Christ the Lord,
And all His bitter suff’ring;
He died for thee, thee to afford
Salvation by His off’ring,
From sin, death, devil set thee free,
From hell and every misery!
O bless His love forever!

3 Hold in remembrance Christ the Lord,
The Victor who is risen!
Victorious, glorious, and adored,
He burst the grave’s dread prison.
Remember that He peace obtained,
His innocence thy life regained,
O bless His love forever!

4 Hold in remembrance Christ the Lord,
Who rose to heav’n in glory!
There to prepare, by Him restored,
A place of bliss before thee,
Where thou shalt live eternally
And there behold His majesty:
O bless His love forever!

5 Hold in remembrance Christ the Lord!
Who shall return from heaven,
By whom then shall the just reward
To quick and dead be given.
Think how thou wilt escape from woe,
And with Him to His kingdom go:
O bless His love forever!

6 Grant, Jesus, that I may to Thee
Cling in true faith forever,
And what Thou hast achieved for me
Let from my heart go never,
That there in all distresses I
May comfort find, and when I die,
Join Thee in life eternal.

Translation sts. 1–4, J. T. Mueller, 1920, alt.
Translation sts. 5–6 © 2022 Matthew Carver.

GERMAN

Halt im Gedächtnis Jesum Christ,
o Mensch, der auf die Erden
von Thron des Himmels kommen ist,
da Bruder da zu werden!
Vergiß nicht daß er dir zu gut
hat angenommen Fleisch und Blut:
dank ihm für diese lLiebe.

2 Halt im Gedächtnis Jesum Christ,
der für dich hat gelitten,
ja gar am kreuz gestorben ist
und dadurch hat bestritten
Welt, Sünde, Teufel, Höll und Tod,
und dich erlöst aus aller Noth:
dank ihm für diese Liebe.

3 Halt im Gedächtnis Jesum Christ,
der auch am dritten Tage
siegreich vom Tod erstanden ist,
befreit von Noth und Plage.
Bedenke, daß er Fried gemacht,
sein Unschuld Leben wieder bracht:
dank ihm für diese Liebe.

4 Halt im Gedächtniß Jesum Christ,
der nach den Leidenszeiten
gen Himmel aufgefahren ist,
die Stätt dir zu bereiten,
da du sollst bleiben allzeit
und sehen seine Herrlichkeit:
dank ihm für diese Liebe.

5 Halt im Gedächtnis Jesum Christ!
der einst wird wiederkommen,
und sich, was todt und lebend ist,
zu richten vorgenommen.
O denke, daß du da bestehst,
und mit ihm in sein Reich eingehst,
ihm ewiglich zu danken.

6 Gieb, Jesu, gieb, daß ich dich kann
mit wahrem Glauben fassen,
und nie, was du an mir gethan,
mög aus dem Herzen lassen;
daß dessen ich in aller Noth
mich trösten mög und durch den Tod
zu dir ins Leben dringen.

Herr Jesu Christ, thu Glück und Heil

Here is my translation of the prayer hymn “Herr Jesu Christ, thu Glück und Heil” (B. Ringwaldt) for the 5th Sunday after Trinity. The appointed melody is “Herr, wie du willt, so schicks mit mir.”

LORD Jesus, grant us happiness,
Health, and an honest living;
Let us our portion due possess
According to Thy giving;
Yet give in moderation, Lord,
Nor too much earthly good afford,
Lest we become too boastful.

2 Supply us not with poverty
But give in proper measure,
That we may not for misery
Forsake Thy will and pleasure,
Nor to the usurer resort,
Who from his neighbor would extort
House, home, and field, and acre!

3 Lord, give what’s best in Thine own sight,
For naught else are we sighing;
Help us to earn our bread aright
Without deceit or lying,
Thy blessings rightly to employ,
And to receive with thanks and joy
All that Thy hand may send us.

4. But chiefly, Lord, salvation give—
Thy gift all gifts excelling!
For here but fleeting days we live
As in a stranger’s dwelling;
Before we know, we shall be gone,
And blest is he who Thee doth own
And in Thy Word departeth.

Translation © 2018 Matthew Carver

GERMAN

Herr Jesu Christ, tu Glück und Heil
uns zu der Nahrung geben,
und schenk uns gütig unser Teil
in diesem kurzen Leben:
Doch halt darinnen Maß und Ziel,
und gib und ja nicht allzuviel,
daß wir uns nicht erheben.

2 Gib uns auch nicht zu wenig Brot,
sondern zu rechter Maßen,
aufdaß wir nicht aus großer Not
dein rein Gebot verlassen;
noch von dem Wuchrer dürfen was
aufborgen, der das beste Gras
auf fremden Wiesen mähet.

3 Herr, gib uns, was uns selig ist,
mehr wolln wir nicht begehren;
und hilf, daß wir ohn Hinterlist
uns fein aufrichtig nähren,
und jederzeit der Gaben dein
recht brauchen, und zufrieden sein
mit dem, was du bescherest.

4. Ey, Herr, gib nur die Seligkeit,
das ist das allerbeste,
wir sind doch hie ein kleine Zeit
nicht anders wie die Gäste;
eh mans versieht, sind wir dahin;
wohl deme, er in seinem Sinn
ist auf dein Wort gestorben.

O Wonder, O Great Mystery

Here is an original hymn, so to speak. It is actually based on Chrysostom’s 46th Homily on John (6:52), sect. 3 & 4. I divided the pertinent sections into two hymns of different meters, the first being in the common German bar meter, 87.87.887. I think the most appropriate of the many available melodies is “Herr, wie du willst, so schicks mit mir.”

O WONDER, O great Mystery!
Behold what here is given,
That we may all one Body be
With Christ the Lord of heaven,
And members of His flesh and bone—
In deed and not in love alone—
Let us in Him be mingled!

2 This wonder comes by this great meal
Which here His hands afford us,
That by it we might know and feel
How great His love is tow’rd us,
He blends with us whom here He feeds,
His Body with our body kneads—
In Him, the Head, uniting.

3 What proof of love could He give more
To hearts that would enfold Him?
He grants to those who Him adore
Not only to behold Him,
But even more, to touch, and taste
Yea, eat His flesh, and thus embraced,
To find their longing sated.

4 From Jesus’ table forth we go
Like fire--breathing lions,
Made fearsome to the evil foe
And mocking his defiance:
Our hearts are bold and comforted,
Remembering our Lord and Head,
And all His love here shown us:

5 “I feed you not as fathers feed,
Their babes to nurses sending;
But with My very flesh indeed
I feed you life unending,
That you may all be nobly born
And hopeful in that blessed morn
When I shall come to fetch you.”

6 For He who gives Himself to you
Here in His true Communion
Much more will give in mansions new,
When perfect is that union:
“For you your Brother I became,
Your flesh and blood, and give the same
By which I’m made your kinsman.”

7 This Blood in us makes fresh and clear
The image of our Master,
Producing beauty without peer,
Permitting no disaster
To spoil our soul’s nobility
It waters it continually
And unto life sustains it.

8 This Blood, unlike all earthly food,
Our souls doth quench and nourish.
And causes in us, for our good,
Its mighty pow’r to flourish,
Drives devils to the farthest coast
And calls to us the angel host
And Christ, the Lord of angels.

9 For where the Savior’s Blood they see
All devils flee in terror
And angels hasten speedily
Regarding nothing fairer.
This Blood washed all the world of sin,
And cleansed the secret place within,
Yea, e’en the Holy_of Holies.

10 If blood of beasts had pow’r to save
In God’s own temple bloody,
And in the midst of Egypt old
Smeared on the door-post ruddy—
Much more the true Reality
Which on the altar here we see,
Brings healing, life, and blessing!

11 This Blood the altar hallowèd
Where lay the bull dissected;
The secret place no priest would tread
Save by this Blood protected;
It consecrated ev’ry priest,
Yea, cleansed all sin until it ceased,
In type and shadow working.

12 Behold, if types possessed such might,
If shadows had such powèr
That even death must shake with fright,
Oh, how would death not cowèr
The very truth to witness here,
Where its Fulfilment doth appear
And death itself is banished?

13 This Blood our soul’s salvation is,
Its bath, its beautifying,
It stokes the heart with holy bliss,
To burn with flame undying,
It makes the soul gleam more than gold.
This Blood outpoured doth heav’n unfold,
And open access grant us.

Text: © 2016 Matthew Carver.

Was kann uns kommen an für Noth

Here is my translation of the early paraphrase of Psalm 23, “Was kann uns kommen an für Noth” (A. Knöpken, 1527), originally written in Low German: “Wat kan uns kamen an vor not.” I actually came across what looks to be an old Latvian translation of the hymn before I ever found the German. The High German translation appears in Das ganz Psalter Davids, Tübingen (1569). Ludecus (1589) appoints it as a hymn for Trinity III.

The proper melody is what we know as "Es ist gewisslich an der Zeit," which was originally published in 1533 as an alternate to "Nun freut euch, lieben Christen gmein." As noted in the comments by Pr. Diers, the tune "Herr, wie du willst, so schicks mit mir" (itself previously an alternate to "Aus tiefer Noth schrei ich zu dir") also works quite well with this text. Here is the Danish version, which uses "Es ist gewisslich." Various German scholars show that one early melody found in J. Klug and V. Triller was a contrafact (or in Triller's case, more or less a direct borrowing) of a secular folksong called "Wach auf, meins Herzens schöne," which I include below as well in Triller's setting, from his Schlesisch Gesengbüchlein. (Listen Here.)



Draft 3 ("You" version):
WHAT shall we want where Christ our Head,
Our Shepherd, ever leads us?
In pastures of His heav’nly bread
He satisfies and feeds us.
Our soul He freshens and restores,
And cools us where His fountain pours,—
His precious Holy Spirit.

2. On even paths for His great name
He safely keeps and guides us,
Forsaking not His sheep to shame
Whenever need betides us;
Therefore we ever bold shall be,
Though faced with death’s dark agony;
For Christ the Lord is with us.

3. Your rod and staff by which You guide
And comfort and correct us—
It is the cross that breaks our pride,
From error to protect us;
It curbs the pois'nous works of sin
That grieve the Holy Ghost within,
And else would make us wander.

4. Your table richly You prepare,
And ever keep before us
Your Holy Word’s delicious fare,
To comfort and restore us
Whene’er the foe our soul assails
This stronghold never breaks or fails,
Bound with Your Spirit’s fullness.

5. Your goodness and Your mercy, Lord,
Shall follow us forever
And all our days on us be poured,
That we through You, our Savior,
May dwell by living faith on earth
And there above in heav’nly mirth,
As Your dear church and children.

6. This all through Christ our Lord we pray,—
Our Shepherd and our Brother:
By grace through faith our souls convey
To God the heav’nly Father,
With God the Holy Spirit One;
So may Your gracious will be done!
Amen, we sing together.

Draft 2:
WHAT shall we want where Christ our Head,
Our Shepherd, ever leads us?
In pastures of His heav’nly bread
He satisfies and feeds us.
He doth our soul’s refreshment bring,
Revives us with His flowing spring,
His precious Holy Spirit.

2. On even paths for His great name
He safely keeps and guides us,
Forsaking not His sheep to shame
Whenever need betides us;
Therefore we ever bold shall be,
Though faced with death’s dark agony;
For Christ the Lord is with us.

3. Thy rod and staff by which Thou dost
Lead, comfort, and correct us—
It is the cross, that from our lust
And harm doth e’er protect us.
It quells the poison of our sin
And all the evils wrought within
Which else would make us wander.

4. Thy table Thou dost rich prepare,
And keep to sight divested:
Thy Holy Word’s delicious fare,
Within our heart digested.
Whene’er the foe our soul assails
This stronghold never breaks or fails,
Bound with Thy Spirit’s fullness.

5. Thy goodness and Thy mercy, Lord,
Shall follow us forever
And all our days on us be poured,
That we through Thee, our Savior,
May dwell by living faith on earth
And there above in heav’nly mirth,
As Thy dear church and children.

6. This all through Christ our Lord we pray,—
Our Shepherd and our Brother:
By grace through faith our souls convey
To God the heav’nly Father,
With God the Holy Spirit One;
So may Thy gracious will be done!
Amen, we sing together.

Translation © Matthew Carver, 2010.

Draft 1:

1. What shall we want if Christ our Head,
Our Shepherd, ever leads us?
In pastures of His heav’nly bread
He satisfies and feeds us.
Our soul’s refreshment doth He bring,
Revives us with His flowing spring,
His precious Holy Spirit.

2. On even paths for His great name
He safely doth escort us,
Forsaking not His sheep to shame,
When need or anguish hurt us;
Therefore we ever bold shall be,
Though faced with death’s dark agony;
For Christ the Lord is with us.

3. Thy blessed staff by which Thou dost
Lead, comfort, and correct us—
It is Thy cross, that from our lust
And harm doth e’er protect us.
It drains the poison of our sin
And all the evils wrought within
which else would rage and flourish.

4. Thy table Thou dost rich prepare,
And e’er to sight divest it—
Thy Holy Word’s delicious fare—
We with our heart digest it.
Whene’er the foe our soul assails
This stronghold never breaks or fails,
Bound with Thy Spirit’s fullness.

5. Thy goodness and Thy mercy, Lord,
Shall follow us forever
And all our days on us be poured,
That we through Thee, our Savior,
May dwell by living faith on earth
And there above in heav’nly mirth,
As Thy dear church and children.

6. This all through Christ our Lord we pray,—
Our Shepherd and our Brother:
By grace through faith our souls convey
To God the heav’nly Father,
With God the Holy Spirit One;
So may Thy gracious will be done!
Amen, we sing together.

Translation © Matthew Carver, 2010.

HIGH GERMAN (1569)

1. Was kann uns kommen an für Noth,
so uns der Herre weidet,
und speiset uns mit Himmel-Brod,
und auf die Weide leitet:
Darzu erquicket unsre Seel,
und kühlet mit dem Wasser-Quell
seins werthen Heilgen Geistes.

2. Und wegen seines Namens groß
Er führt auf rechter Strassen,
und thut in keiner Zeit trostlos
in Angst und Noth uns lassen;
darum wir stetig muthig sein
auch in des Todes Schattn und Pein;
denn uns der Herr beistehet.

3. Dein Stab, mit dem du leiten thust,
uns tröstet und auch strafet,
das Kreuz dämpfet des Fleisches Lust,
daß es nicht Schaden schaffet
dem Geiste durch der Sünden Gift,
die alles Böse (leider!) stift,
und thut sich stetes regen.

4. Du einen Tisch bereitet hast,
den stetes wir anschauen,
deins heilgen Wortes werthe Kost,
die wir im Herzen kauen;
wenn uns des Feindes List anfällt,
dieselb denn unser Seel erhält,
samt deines Geistes Fülle.

5. Dein Güte und Barmherzigkeit
uns, Herre, folgen werden,
von nun an bis in Ewigkeit,
daß wir allhier auf Erden
durch seligmachend Glauben seyn,
dort offenbahr im Saale dein,
Bürger und Hausgenossen.

6. Das helf uns der Herr Jesus Christ,
der unsre Hertzen bauet,
durch Glauben, der rechtthätig ist,
und Gott den Vater schauet;
durch Ihme, samt dem Heilgen Geist
aufdaß werd dieser Wunsch geleist,
so sprecht einmüthig, Amen!

LOW GERMAN (1530–4)

1. Wat kan uns kamen an vor nodt,
so uns de Here weidet
unde spiset uns mit Hemmelbrodt
und up de weide leidet,
Darto vorquicket unsen modt,
und kölet mit dem water söt
syns werden hilligen Geistes.

2. Um synes namen willen uns
he fört up rechter strate,
Leth uns tho nener tyd trostlos
in schad und ock in bate:
Darüm wy stedes mödig syn
ock in des dodes schem und pyn,
went du bist mit uns, Here.

3. De stock und staff unses pastors
uns trösten unde straffen,
dat Crütze dempt des flesches lust,
dat itt nicht schaden schaffen
dem geiste dorch der sünde gift,
de in dem sterfliken linc ys
und deit sick stedes rögen.

4. Du hefst bereit uns einen disch,
den wy stedes anschowen,
dins hilligen wordes werde spiss,
de wy im herten kowen:
Wenn uns des viendes list angript,
desülf den unse seel erquickt
sampt dynes geistes fülle.

5. Dyne güde unde barmherticheit
darumme [uns], Here, volgen
van nu an bett in ewicheit,
du bist unse vorsorger,
dat wy hyr dorch den [ge]loven syn
darto apenbar im sale dyn
börger und husgenoten.

6. Des help uns unse Here Jesu Christ
de unse herte buwet
dorch rechten [ge]loven und leve up sick,
dat wy den Vader schowen
dorch en sampt dem hilligen Geist:
welckeren de wünsch tho herten gheit,
spreken einmödich Amen.