Heut singt die liebe Christenheit

Here is my translation of the hymn “Heut singt die liebe Christenheit” (N. Herman, 1561), from the author’s Sonntags-Evangelia, for the feast of St. Michael, his own German translation or rendering of Melanchthon’s Dicimus grates tibi, translated earlier in 1554 by Paul Eber as “Herr Gott, wir danken alle dir,” which Cronenwett gives as “Lord God, we all to Thee give praise.” Herman, while opting for a meter agreeing with “Kommt her zu mir,” provides a proper melody possibly written by Gesius.

Mel.: Heut singt die liebe Christianheit.
 

 

 

ALL Christians sing with joy today:
To God be laud and praise for aye,
And thanks for His great favor,
That He the blessed angel-kind
Created, and to us assigned,
To guard and keep us ever!

2 They, shining like the sunlight clear,
Bright as a flame of fire appear,
For so hath God arrayed them,
All heav’nly spirits fairest wrought,
By nature holy, without spot;
Christ is their Lord, who made them.

3 They always stand before God’s sight,
As mirrors shining back the light
Of Godhead uncreated;
To Him sing glory, praise, and laud,
Thrice Holy is the Lord our God,
As by the prophet stated.

4 Their name and offices they get
From those o’er which God hath them set
Among the earthly nations;
For as estates are here distinct,
So hath God ordered them and linked
To various earthly stations.

5 Th’ archangel Michael, Christ our Lord,
Who is like God, and so adored,
Beneath whose banner splendid
All angel ranks by day and night
Strive ’gainst the devil’s craft and might,
Until his lies are ended.

6 The ancient dragon will not rest,
At ev’ry hour he seeks how best
To gain the vict’ry o’er us,
And do us harm and take control
Of honor, goods, and body and soul
By sword and guile inglorious.

7 First doth he stir up heresy,
Sedition, war, and tyranny,
God’s order thus to shatter;
He kings and princes doth incite,
All concord break and put to flight,
His wrath doth widely scatter.

8 Great tempests he doth make arise,
And hail, that all doth pulverize;
With fumes the air he filleth,
Nor would he grant us earthly fruits,
But as a villain fouls, pollutes,
And grief in hearts instilleth.

9 Did angels not resist him e’er,
Our body, soul, blood, skin, and hair
Were safe for not one hour;
With fire and water, wind and snow
He would destroy us all below,
So hard and fierce his power.

10 When we in greatest peril lie,
The angels to our succor fly
And soon the foe is beaten;
To Daniel were the lions good,
Because god’s angel by him stood,
Else were he shortly eaten.

11 From heaven fire and brimstone rained
On Sodom and Gomorrah’s land,
Old Lot was yet relievèd
When with his wife and daughters he
Was made by angels thence to flee
And so his life receivèd.

12 When Peter in the prison sat,
Already judged, expecting that
King Herod soon would slay him,
Then came his angel in the night,
To free him from his fetters tight,
And from distress convey him.

13 So in the fiery furnace too,
An angel worked a wonder true,
Three godly young men protected;
He made it as a meadow green,
With dewy wind where fire had been
No heat the lads afflicted.

14 So shall we also still today
Be kept by them from much dismay;
Round us and round our dwelling
They fight and strive by day and night,
Defend us with their watchful might,
The ancient worm repelling.

15 For this we thank Thee, Christ our Lord,
Who dost such watchmen us afford,
Who safely thus attend us,
Lest e’er the foe by guiling art
Assail, and shoot his pois’nous dart,
Oh, by His blood defend us!

Translation © 2025 Matthew Carver.

GERMAN

Heut singt die liebe Christenheit:
Gott Lob und Dank in Ewigkeit,
und dankt ihm für sein Güte,
daß er der lieben Engel Schar
erschaffen hat und immerdar
unser pflegen und hüten.

2 Sie glänzen wie der Sonnenschein,
hell wie ein Feuerflammen sie sein
als ganz himmlische Geister.
und sein die schönste Kreatur,
heilig von Art und ihr Natur,
Christ ist ihr Schöpfer und Meister.

3 Sie sehen stets Gotts Angesicht
spiegeln sich in dem klaren Licht
göttlicher Majestäte,
dem singen sie Lob, Preis und Ehr,
Heilig, heilig ist Gott der Herr,
wie anzeigt der Prophete.

4 Ihr Namen und Ämter sie han
von denen, so sie zugethan,
sind hie in diesem Leben,
denn wie hie unterschieden sein
die Ständ, also hat ihn Got fein
ihr Ordnung auch gegeben.

5 Michael unser Herre Christ,
der öberst Engel, Gott gleich ist,
unter seim Fännlein schweben
all Engl, und streiten Tag und Nacht
wider des Teufels List und Macht,
und seim Wort widerstreben.

6 Der alte Drach der feiret nicht.
All Augenblick er tracht und ticht,
wie er uns mög ob siegen,
an Leib und Seel, Ehr, Gut und Hab
beschädigen und brechen ab
mit seinem Mord und Liegen.

7 Erstlich erregt er Ketzerei,
Aufruhr, Mord, Krieg und Tyrannei,
Gotts Ordnung er zerrüttet,
Köng und Fürsten zusamm erhetzt,
all Bündnis trennt er und verletzt,
sein Zorn er gar ausschüttet.

6 Groß Ungewitter er erregt,
das oft der Hagel alls erschlägt,
die Luft er auch vergiftet,
die Frücht der Erd gönnt er uns nicht,
beschmeißt, verderbt als der Böswicht,
und allen Jammer stiftet.

9 Wo ihm nicht wehrt der Engel Schar,
unser Leib, Seel, Blut, Haut und Haar
kein Stund blieb unverletzet,
Mit Feuer, Wasser, Wind und Schnee
uns alle er verderbete, {uns allsammt}
so hart er uns zusetzet.

10 Wenn wir stehn in der größten Fahr,
nehmen die Engel unser wahr,
und aus der Noth erretten,
dem Daniel kein Löw nichts thet,
weil der Engel Gotts bei ihm steht,
die ihn sonst gfressen hätten.

11 Da Schwefl und Feur vom Himmel kam,
verderbt Sodom und Gomorram,
wurd Loth dennoch der alte,
mit seim Weib und zwei Töchterlein
errettet durch die Engelein
und beim Leben erhalten.

12 Da Petrus in dem Kerker saß,
und all bereit verutheilt was,
Herodis wollt ihn töten,
da kam sein Engel in der Nacht,
und ihn von Ketten ledig macht,
und half ihn aus sein Nöthen {hulf ihm}

13 Im feuring Ofen hat dergleich
der Engel behüt wünderleich
drei gottselige Knaben,
gleichwie in einer grünen Au,
das Feuer wurd ein kühler Tau,
kein Hitz sie gefüllt haben.

14 Also werdn wir noch heut bei Tag
durch sie behüt für mancher Plag;
treulich für uns sie wachen,
streiten und kämpfen Tag und Nacht,
han uns in guter Hut und Acht,
und wehrn dem alten Drachen.

15 Des dankn wir dir, Herr Jesu Christ,
daß du uns solche Wächter gibst,
die halten uns in Hute,
daß uns der Feind nicht übereil,
und in uns schieß sein giftig Pfeil,
bewahr uns durch dein Blute.

Ich armer Mensch gar nichtes bin

Here is my translation of the poem or hymn “Ich armer Mensch gar nichtes bin” (J. Gigas, 1564), or “…doch gar nichts bin,” a versified supplication of one who is near death. It is based on a Latin elegaic Precatio by Philip Melanchthon dating to 1555  (See Wackernagel 1:457). The six couplets which comprise the original form of the lyric are first seen at the end of an exposition by Gigas of the hymn, “Ein Kindelein so löbelich” which was published in 1564. The tune normally appointed for it in hymnals is “O Jesu Christ, meins Lebens Licht” or “Herr Jesu Christ, wahr Mensch und Gott.”

I, WRETCHED man, am naught, I own.  
    God’s Son remains my gain alone,
My hope—that He true Man was made,
    My ransom—’twas His blood that paid. 


2. O God the Father, govern me  
    With Thy good Spirit constantly; 
Allow Thy Son, my Life and Stay,
    To dwell within my heart alway. 


3. Oh, when the final hour I see,  
    Take me, Lord Jesus Christ, to Thee! 
For Thine I am, and mine Thou art—
    To meet Thee soon how longs my heart!
Amen.


Translation © 2015 Matthew Carver.

GERMAN

Ich armer Mensch gar nichtes bin, 

Gotts Sohn allein ist mein Gewinn.

Daß er Mensch wordn, das ist mein Trost;

Er hat mich durch sein Blut erlöst.

O Gott Vater, regier du mich

Mit deinem Geiste stetiglich.

Laß deinen Sohn, mein Trost und Lebn,

Allzeit in meinem Herzen schwebn;

Und wenn die Stund verhanden ist,

Nimm mich zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ:

Denn ich bin dein, und du bist mein,

Wie gern wollt ich bald bei dir sein.

Amen.

MELANCHTHON'S LATIN

Nil sum, nulla miser novi solatia, massam

Humanam nisi quod tu quoque, Christe, geris.

Tu me sustenta fragilem, tu Christe guberna.

Fac ut sim massae surculus ipse tuae.

Hoc mirum foedus semper mens cogitet, uno

Hoc est, ne dubita, foedere parta salus. 

Dicimus grates tibi

Here is my translation of “Dicimus grates tibi summe rerum Conditor” (P. Melanchthon, 1539) from the Latin rather than from the German paraphrase by Paul Eber (†1569; translations of that have been made by Seiss and Cronenwett). This one preserves the 11.11.11.5 meter. I provide the melody from Lossius Psalmodia (1579):

THANKS UNTO THEE, O highest Lord, Creator,
We through Thy Son for angel hosts now render,
Who by Thy hand as flames of fire were fashioned
Ministers blameless.

2. Bright with Thy brilliance, they reflect Thy glory,
With raptured gazes e’er Thy face beholding,
Wisdom from Thee as from the Fountain drawing,
Thy Words receiving.

3. Thou dost not suffer this Thy holy people
Idly to tarry, nor their flight to squander
Round the vast ethers, playing in breezes,
As though unheeding.

4. Them hast Thou bidden to be Christ’s attendants,
And to keep vigil where the godly gather,
Where Thy commandments fitting praise are given
And well implanted.

5. For hotly burning with ungodly hatred,
Satan the dragon, by whom sin and dying
This world first entered, furious on thy barracks
Wages his warfare.

6. Here seeking only ruin and destruction
Of house and city, church and congregation,
All Thy commandments, and all holy conduct,—
Fain would he raze them.

7. Yet o’er us watching, heav’nly troops of angels
Follow their Captain, Christ, the high Commander,
Curbing the bloody weapons of the dragon,
Whereso he rages.

8. Angels saved Lot from Sodom’s devastation,
Harbored Elisha from the hostile armies;
Ringed round by angels, he beheld unfearing
Banners of battle.

9. Safe mid the circling lions stood the prophet
Daniel, surrounded by a hedge of angels;
Thus doth God ever by His faithful servants
Keep us in shelter.

10. This Thy protection we devoutly honor,
As unto Thee our choirs, their voices blending
With choirs angelic, thankful anthems render,
O kind Creator.

11. Set these Thy watchmen o’er Thy temple ever,
And o’er Thy people, who Thy Son's fair message
Hallow with rev'rence; this we beseech Thee
With heart unfeigning.

Translation © Matthew Carver, 2011.

LATIN

1. Dicimus grates tibi, summe rerum
Conditor, gnato tua quod ministros
Flammeos finxit manus angelorum
Agmina pura.

2. Qui tuae lucis radiis vibrantes
Te vident laetis oculis, tuasque
Hauriunt voces, sapientiaeque
Fonte fruuntur.

3. Hos nec [non] ignavum sinis [finis] esse vulgus,
Nec per ingentes volitare frustra
Aetheris tractus, temere nec inter
Ludere ventos.

4. Sed jubes Christo comites adesse
Et pios caetus hominum tueri,
Qui tuas leges venerantur, atque
Discere curant.

5. Impiis ardens odiis et ira
Nam tuis castris draco semper infert
Bella, qui primis scelus atque mortem
Intulit orbi.

6. Hic domos, urbes, tua templa, gentes
Et tuae legis monumenta tota
Et bonos mores abolere tentat
Funditus omnes.

7. Interim sed nos regit angelorum,
Quae ducem Christum sequitur, caterva,
Atque grassantis reprimit cruenta
Arma draconis.

8. Angeli Lothon Sodomae tuentur,
Inter infestos Elisaeus [C…] hostes,
Angelis cinctus, nihil extimescit
Bellica signa.

9. Tutus est inter medios leones,
Angelis s(a)eptus Daniel propheta:
Sic tegit semper Deus his ministris
Omnia nostra.

10. Hoc tuum munus celebramus una,
Et tibi noster chorus angelique
Gratias dicunt simul accinentes,
Conditor alme.

11. Et tuo templo vigiles ut addas
Angelos semper, populoque, Gnati
Qui tui verbum colit, obsecramus
Pectore toto.

Aeterne gratias tibi dicamus omnes Conditor

Here is my translation of the hymn “Aeterne gratias tibi” (P. Melanchthon), as given in Lossius’ Psalmodia (1579) for the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Elizabeth. The tune is also used for other hymns in the book cited.

ETERNAL MAKER, unto Thee

May all our thanks and praises be,

Who in the midst of many a foe
Dost save Thy Church from every woe.

2. Through heathen arms in open view
And Herod’s mighty retinue
Through perils many and severe
And doctrines false and dangers sheer,

3. Thou didst Thy virgin spare from death
Until she reached Elizabeth
To tell her of Thy gift of grace,
Who madest her Thy dwelling-place.

4. Nor priest nor prince was giv’n to see
The tidings of that prophecy,
Nor in that spotless veil to view
The advent of our Savior true.

5. But rather did Elizabeth
Beside the Virgin, full of faith,
Those tidings to the faithful bring,
Who worshiped Christ as God and King.

6. As in the womb the prophet lay,
He knew his Lord of ancient day,
And Him to priests as yet unknown
Adored upon His virgin throne.

7. This first of synods so confessed
That there within the Virgin blest,
The Father’s Word, in hour foresaid,
Had taken flesh and man was made.

8. Now kindled by this witness pure,
Within our heart, a faith more sure
Must render praise and pray’r alone
To Christ, the virgin Mary’s Son,

9. And seek His help with hope unblent,
And trust in whom the Father sent
To save all those who on Him call,
And freedom grant from evils all.

Translation © Matthew Carver, 2011.

LATIN

1. Aeterne gratias tibi
dicamus omnes conditor,
Quod inter hostes plurimos,
Ecclesiam servas tamen.

2. Ut inter arma gentium,
Herodis et Satellites
Interque tetros dogmatum
Furores et deliria.

3. Servas Mariam virginem
Domumque castae_Elisabeth,
Quae praedicavit munus tuum,
Datumque Christum nuntiat.

4. Non Pontifex, non Principes,
etsi sciunt oracula
vatum, venisse noverant,
salutis autorem novae.

5. Sed dulcis haec Elizabeth,
et virginis congressio,
Arcana promit caeteris,
vere Deum colentibus

6. Alvoque foetus conditus,
longo sacerdotum agmini,
agnoscit, ignotum ducem,
adorat et gestu suo.

7. Haec prima Synodus fuit,
testata deo Christo duce,
postquam statuto tempore,
Verbum Patris factum est caro.

8. Accensa testimoniis,
in corde nostro talibus,
colat fides, et invocet,
Christum Mariae filium.

9. Opemque spe firma petat,
missumque credat a Patre.
ut invocantes adjuvet,
malisque cunctis liberet.

GERMAN (transl. by A. Lobwasser)

1. Dir Gott und Schöpfer danken wir
Lob, Ehr und Preis wir geben dir,
Daß du uns wieder unser Feind,
beschützest welcher sehr viel seind.

2. Wie du wieder die Heidenschaft
und den Herodis Macht und Kraft,
in grosser mächtiger Gefahr,
und greulichen Irrthum der Lahr,

3. Mariam gewaltig hast erredt,
und denn das Haus Elisabeth,
die deiner Wohlthat eingedenk,
hochrühmen Christum dein Geschenk.

4. Dem Hohenpriester dem sonst wohl
die Weissagung bekannt sein soll,
den Fürsten auch ist nicht bekannt,
der Seelen Tröster und Heiland.

5. Sondern die Jungfrau lobesam
und dann ihr Mum zu der sie kam
hat diese Ding den Kund gethan,
die Gott ehren und rufen an.

6. Dir Frucht die noch verborgen war,
im Mutterleib vermerket klar,
höret und bett den Fürsten an,
den aus den Priestern kennt kein Mann.

7. Der rechte Synodus das war,
der Christum zeuget offenbar,
do nach bestimmter Zeit und Frist
des Vaters Wort Fleisch worden ist.

8. Durch solches Zeugnis angemerk
sich unsers Herzens Glauben sterk
das er Christum Marie Kind
ehr, anruf, und sich zu ihm find.

9. Und dann bei ihm such Hülf und Rath,
den der Vater gesendet hat,
auf daß er uns helf und erlös
von dem was schädlich ist und bös.

Aeterno gratias Patri

Here is my translation of “Aeterno gratias Patri” (P. Melanchthon), a hymn for the Feast of the Nativity of John the Baptist, as found in Lossius’ Psalmodia (1579). Below is his version of the melody followed by an unidentified second version.

NOW UNTO God the Father raise
All churches songs of thanks and praise,
For John, the herald of His Word,
Whom God hath sent and we have heard.

2. He bade men turn from sin and pride,
The haughty spirits terrified
With fearful warning that the Son
Would come to judge the earth anon.

3. He called the broken to believe,
And life and comfort to receive;
The Lamb he showed, alone who would
Appease God’s wrath and shed His blood.

4. These teachings he, with spirit bold
Imparting, thus the Christ foretold,
As if a newer Sun were nigh,
The very Dayspring from on high.

5. No way the Pharisees could find
His spirit strong to break or bind;
Elijah true, he filled his task
The hypocrites thus to unmask.

6. We pray Thee, Father God in heav’n,
Our heart and spirit to sustain
That we by faith may evermore
Believe the witness that John bore.

Translation © Matthew Carver, 2011.

LATIN

Aeterno gratias Patri
Omnes canant Ecclesiae
Quod nuntium verbi sui
Johannem nobis miserit.

Hic mores exuit malos [Hic exui mores malos]
Jussit, metuque judicis
Mox adfuturi terruit,
Superbas mentes omnium.

Rursumque perculsas metu,
In spem vitae certae vocat,
Et monstrat agnum digito,
Qui placat unicus Deum.

Haec ille firmo pectore
Docet, Christumque praedicat
Venire, ceu solem novum,
Prodire aurora nunciat.

Nec Pharisaei Spiritum
Fregerunt ingentem viri,
Helias alter hic fuit,
Hypocritas dum arguit.

Te summe rogamus Pater,
Ut corda nostra suscites,
Ut vere possint credere
Johannes testimonio. Amen.

GERMAN

Dem Vater in des HImmels Thron,
Lobsingen alle Kirchen schon,
daß er Johannem hat gesandt
durch ihn sein Wort gemacht bekannt.

2. Er hat Bußfertigkeit gelehrt,
und der Leut Sicherheit gewehrt,
die er bedräut mit Gotts Gericht
Daß denn lang sollt ausbleiben nicht.

3. Widrum der den die er erschreckt,
des Lebens starken Trost erweckt,
daß er das Lamm mit fingern zeigt,
daß uns den Vater macht geneigt.

4. Solches lehrt er und sagt dabei,
daß Christus nah vorhanden sei,
gleichwei der Morgenröt verlauf,
verkündigt daß die Sonn geh auf.

5. Mit nicht hat sich auch dieser Mann
die Phariseer schrecken lan,
der ein rechter Helias war,
die Gleißnerei straft offenbar.

6. Wir bitten dich du Vater gut,
Erweck in uns Herz, Sinn und Muth,
daß wir Johannis Zeugnis nu
mit starken Glauben fallen zu.