Zum Bilde Gottes ward

Here is my translation of the Sin and Justification hymn “Zum Bilde Gottes ward” (J. J. Rambach, † 1735), which was included in the Buffalo Synod Hymnal #324. The appointed melody is “O Gott du frommer Gott.” Unusually, the odd lines are partly rhymed (lines 5 and 7 rhyme).

 

IN God’s own image, Man
Was at the first created,
And was most gloriously
In his fair place enstated:
His beauty and majesty
Was his own righteousness,
His lofty dignity
Was His pure holiness.

2 He had the pow’r to know
His God in truth and fully,
And with a heart sincere
To call Him Father truly;
The Maker’s holy will,
His Word, His works, His ways
With joy he could fulfill
To God’s great laud and praise.

3 His body fairer was
Than ever could be spoken,
Free from all hint of death,
From being sick or broken;
The beasts both low and high—
Those in the sea that swim
Those that through heavens fly—
Were subject all to him.

4 Man, disobeying, lost
This image and all merit;
Hereditary sin
Did all men thence inherit,
So now the human race
Without salvation’s cure
Is sin before God’s face,
And no one more is pure.

5 My God, restrain, I pray,
The old man in me lurking,
Make me completely new,
In mind and spirit working,
That all my life may be
Devoted to Thy reign,
Free from hypocrisy
And without spot or stain.

Translation © 2022 Matthew Carver.

GERMAN

Zum Bilde Gottes ward
der erste Mensch formiret,
und auf das herrlichste
von seinem Gott gezieret:
sein Schmuck und seine Zierd'
war die Gerechtigkeit,
und seine hohe Würd'
war lauter Heiligkeit.

2 Er konnte seinen Gott
ganz völliglich erkennen,
und aus des Herzens Grund
Ihn seinen Vater nenne;
des Schöpfers ganzen Will'n,
sein Wort und wein Geheiß
mit Lust er konnt erfüll'n
zu Gottes hohem Preis.

3 Der Leib viel schöner war,
als jemand konnt' aussprechen,
er war frei von dem Tod,
von Krankheit und Gebrechen:
der thiere großes Heer,
was fleucht gen Himmel an,
wie auch die Fisch im Meer
ihm waren unterthan.

4 Durch Ungehorsam ist
dies Ebenbild verloren:
die Erbsünd' aber wird
uns allen angeboren,
das nun die Menschenkind,
so vile ihr'r immer sein,
vor Gott sind eitel Sünd,
und keiner ist mehr rein.

5 Mein Gott, ich bitte dich,
dem alten Menschen steure,
im Geiste des Gemüths
rechtschaffen mich erneure:
damit mein ganzes leb'n
ohn' alle Heuchelei,
zu Deinem Dienst ergeb'n,
und unbeflecket sei.