Leb ich, so leb ich meinem Gott

Here is my translation of the death hymn, “Leb ich, so leb ich meinem Gott” (Anon., 16th c.?), in Ev.-luth. Gsb #661, based on Romans 14:8. Fischer has no entry for it. It is in fact originally a rhymed prayer for the dying found especially in early “art of dying” books and hymnals as a single stanza. I find it first in the Nuremberg Gsb 1590 (525 Geistliche Lieder…), and funeral orders, such as Seb. Wresovic’s Gloriae Christi sacrum (1594) and Johann Juglerus’ funeral sermon for Otto Henry, Elector Palatine (1604). Its early appearance in Nuremberg points to a possible connection with a Bohemian source. Later it appears in other art-of-dying manuals and hymnals, e.g., of Bernhard Albrecht (1666); Daniel Tanner (Regensburg, 1646), etc. It is especially reminiscent of lines by Johannes Leon, e.g., in “Ich hab mein Sach Gott heimgestellt,” and “Leb ich, O mein Herr Jesu Christ, so leb ich dir, mein Heyland bist” (Wackernagel IV, p. 512) and probably dates from his time, being included also in his posthumous Ejaculationes, das sind, Kurtze Hertzerweichende Klag (cf. ed. 1620). The appointed melody in the Wisconsin hymnal is “Herr Jesu Christ, wahr Mensch und Gott.”

 

NOW, if I live, I live to God,
And if I die, I fear no rod,
For I in Jesus Christ confide,
And trust that for my sins He died.

2 He that believes in Him, dies not
Nor shall dread judgment be his lot.
Therefore I die with willing heart;
In peace and joy I shall depart.

3 When at the Last Day God shall sound
His mighty trump, I’ll leave the ground
And joy in Christ eternally:
So grant it, Holy Trinity!

Translation © 2023 Matthew Carver.

GERMAN

Leb ich, so leb ich meinem Gott;
sterb ich, so hört auf all mein Noth;
ich glaub, das mein Herr Jesus Christ
für all meine Sünd gestorben ist.

2 Wer an ihn glaubt, der stirbet nicht,
und kommt auch nimmer ins Gericht.
Drum ich zu sterben willig bin,
absterben ist meine bester G'winn.

3 Wenn Gottes Posaun wird angehn
am jüngsten Tag, will ich aufstehn,
bei Christo sein in ewger Freud,
das helf die wahr Dreienigkeit!

Amen.

GERMAN VARIANTS

sterb ich, so hört auf all mein Noth.
Ich glaub, daß mein Herr Jesus Christ
für all mein Sünd gestorben ist.
Wer an ihn glaubet stirbet nicht, […glaubt, der stirbet nicht]
viel wenigr wird derselb gericht, [viel wenger…]
drum ich zum Sterben willig bin,
mit Fried und Freud ich fahr dahin. {or, Absterben ist vor mein Gewinn. Amen.}
Wann Gottes Posaun wird angehn,
am Jüngsten Tag will ich aufstehn,
[mein lieben Gott von Angesicht
ewig schauen, dran zweifl ich nicht,]
in aller Freud und Herrlichkeit,
das helf mir die Dreifaltigkeit. Amen.

Qui solis excellit jubar / Der heller leuchtet denn die Sonn

Here is my translation of “Qui solis excellit jubar” (G. Fabricius), a Reformation-period Latin hymn first appearing in the author’s De historia et meditatione mortis Christi et de usitatis Ecclesiae christianae festis ac temporibus, 1553, and afterwards in his Poemata Sacra, and was included in the Andernach Hymnal. A German cento by Spangenberg was appointed in the Nürnberg hymnal (766 Geistliche Psalmen) to be sung during Passiontide, as an alternate to one of a couple vernacular versions of Gregory's Passion hymn, “Rex Christe factor omnium” [O Christ our King, who all hast made]. The melody appointed by Spangenberg for his German rendering is “Conditor alme siderum.”

The Andernach Hymnal, however, had the following tune (use the alternate ending):

THE LIGHT whose brightness passes far
The beauty both of sun and star,
With stripes disfigured, hangs His head
Upon the cross, and God is dead.

2. The Lord who gives His creatures breath,
And life to those who lie in death,
With arms the crossbeam spanning wide,
Between the thieves is crucified.

3. So wracked with wounds and injured sore,
Our wounds and injury He bore:
He took the sins He had not done,
And thus our remedy He won.

4. The Lamb is lifted on the stock,
The Spotless for the spotted flock:
The worthy Victim who alone
With God the Father can atone.

5. O Christ, our true High Priest and Lord,
Upon the Cross’s altar poured,
Who, dying, didst death’s kingdom scour
And lay to waste his tyrant pow’r:

6. To Thee, Eternal God, we flee,
Our Seat of Mercy fair and free,
Oh, take the sins which here we own,
And cast them to oblivion.

7. By Thee grant us to overthrow
The devil, our salvation’s foe,
The flesh, to stumbling ever prone,
The world, with fruitless pleasures sown.

8. Reach forth Thy tortured arms to take
The pleas that we Thy mourners make,
And to our faithful pray’rs incline
Thy visage bloody and divine.

9. O Life and Hope and Strength, to Thee,
Redeemer, Savior, glory be,
With God the Father on His throne,
And Holy Spirit, God alone.

Amen.

Translation © 2013 Matthew Carver.

LATIN

1. Qui solis excellit jubar
Et astra pulchritudine,
Deformis, horridus, lacer
Pendet necatus in cruce.

2. Qui dat creatis spiritum,
Vitamque donat mortuis,
Extendit in ligno manus,
Inter latrones mortuus.

3. Nostro ille laesus scilicet,
Et vulneratus vulnere:
Peccata quae non fecerat,
Seruaret ut nos, pertulit.

4. Agnus levatur stipite,
Pro noxiis innoxius:
Haec sola grata pro reis
Deo parenti victima.

5. O Christe noster, in crucis
Oblatus ara, Pontifex:
Qui morte mortem permeans
Mortis tyrannum destruis.

6. Ad te perennis currimus
Thronum paratum gratiae.
Patrata nobis crimina
Oblivione contere.

7. Per te queamus vincere
Hostem salutis daemonem,
Et omne carnis lubricum,
Ac triste mundi gaudium.

8. Votis gementum porrige,
Distenta ligno brachia,
Preces et ad nostras caput
Tabo reclina lividum.

9. Tu vita, consolatio,
Robur, salus, redemptio,
Tibi, et Parenti, et Flamini
Sacro, canatur gloria.

GERMAN cento by SPANGENBERG

1. Der heller leuchtet denn die Sonn,
und übertrifft die Sterne schon,
der hänget an dem Kreuz hie tot,
greulich gegeisselt und verspott.

2. Der da die Toten auferweckt,
der haft am Holz hie ausgestreckt,
der allem Ding das Leben schenkt,
am Kreuz tot bei den Mördern hängt.

3. Der hängt am Kreuz verwundet sehr,
verletzt durch unsre Sünden schwer,
der trägt all unser Missethat,
der keine Sünd begangen hat.

4. Zu dem Thron deiner Gnaden wir,
demütig kommen nun zu dir,
und bitten dich durch deine Gnad,
Vergib uns unsre Missethat.

5. Gib, daß der Seelen Feind gedämpft,
der leidig Teufel überkämpft,
die eitel Freud auf dieser Erd,
des Fleisches Lust bezwungen werd.

6. Streck gnädig zu uns deine Arm,
und unsers Seufzens dich erbarm,
dein Blutig Haupt rab zu uns neig,
dich gnädig gegen uns erzeig.

7. Unser Leben und Trost du bist,
bei dir Stärk, Heil und Ablaß ist,
dir Vater, Sohn, Heiliger Geist,
werd ewig Lob und Ehr beweist.

Ach wie elend ist unsre Zeit* (update)

Here is my updated (You) form of my own translation of the hymn, “Ach wie elend ist unsre Zeit” by Johannes Gigas, based on Psalm 90, first appearing in Nürnberg 1566 (where it is titled "a summary of Moses' prayer") and later in the author’s own catechism of 1577. While appointed to be sung to "Es ist das Heil uns kommen her" in the Nürnberg hymnal (to be sung, int. al., on the XXIV. Sunday after Trinity), it would also be fittingly sung to “Aus tiefer Not schrei ich zu dir.” Also there appears to be a proper tune composed later (see below):


HOW wretched is this life, alas!
How soon our soul is wearied!
How quickly mortal men must pass
From hence, and low be buried!
Here in this vale of tears we see,
E’en in our brief prosperity,
That all is toil and trouble.

2. Through Adam’s fall and sinful deed
Do we this all inherit.
God, grant us aid in time of need:
Your help alone has merit.
It fills Your heart with pity sure,
To see us blind and self-secure
Amid such pain and sorrow.

3. Lord, You our refuge are alone;
Send us Your help forever,
For You do not forget Your own,
Who trust in Your good favor:
Your Spirit send, our way to tend,
And grant us all a blessed end;
Through Jesus Christ we pray You.

Translation © Matthew Carver, 2010.

GERMAN

Ach wie elend ist unsre Zeit
allheir auf dieser Erden,
Gar bald der Mensch darnieder leit,
wir müssen alle sterben.
Allhier in diesem Jammerthal
ist Müh und Arbeit überall,
auch wann es wohl gelinget.

2. Ach, Adams Fall und Missethat
solchs alles auf uns erben,
O Gott, gib du uns guten Rath,
daß wirs erkennen lernen.
Daß wir so blind und sicher sein
mitten in Trübsal und in Pein,
das ist ja zu erbarmen.

3. Herr Gott, du unser Zuflucht bist,
Dein Hülfe thu uns senden,
der du der deinen nicht vergißt,
die sich zu dir nur wenden.
Mit deinem Geiste steh uns bei,
ein selges Stündlein uns verleih,
durch Jesum Christum, Amen.

Geht hin und lehret alle Völker

Here is my version of the setting "Geht hin und lehret…" (Geistliche Lieder, Nürnberg 1566), of Bohemian Brethren origin, adapted to the English (ESV) translation of the two Baptism texts from Matthew 28:19 and Mark 16:16. Note that the German itself was adapted to fit the rhythm. The chief alteration in my English version was the reduction by two syllables of the (e-f) figure in the last two lines. A note in Kümmerle (I 180) seems to indicate that this melody was used for a kanzellied (a short hymn or verse sung while the pastor ascended the pulpit) in Prussia until the beginning of the 19th c.