Nun laßt uns Gottes Güte

Here is my translation of “Nun laßt uns Gottes Güte” (M. Dilherr, 1646), which ought perhaps to have appeared in the previously posted translation of “Laßt uns mit süßen Weisen,” which is (I now learn) a revision of this present one. According to Julian, our hymn first appeared in Dilherr’s Weg zu der Seligkeit (Nuremberg, 1646), p. 491, with 16 stanzas, and was titled “Hymn of God’s goodness and against fretting cares.” Translation from the Form in Brüder Gesangbuch 1778, no. 267 (8 stanzas). In the 8-stanza revision the present stanza 1 is largely left intact, as is 6, which becomes stanza 4 of the revision, stanzas 9–10 are slightly recast for the revised stanzas 6–7.  Thus in the present translation, stanzas 6 and 10 are borrowed, largely unaltered, from the shorter revision. A brief cento in English by the Bohemian Brethren, “The Prayers of the Needy,” does not concern us here, since it is based on the 8-stanza German cento. The melody is “Nun laßt uns Gott dem Herren.”

 

LET us devoutly ponder
God’s goodness with due wonder,
And view with awe unceasing
The Father’s love and blessing.

2 Or e’er the daylight met us,
He in His heart first set us,
By love was He so smitten,
We in His Book were written.

3 He hath us here selected
To join the saints elected,
Us as His heirs did cherish,
That we should never perish.

4 He gives us for our knowing
His Word, on Him bestowing
The name of kind Supplier,
And gracious Rectifier.

5 That we might live in heaven,
His own dear Child was given;
He as our Surety lent Him,
Yea, to the cross He sent Him.

6 So let this thought avail us,
Whenever sins assail us,
He such affection showeth,
Who thus His Son bestoweth.

7 Shall sighs in faith directed
To Him be e’er rejected?
What soul or body needeth—
Such pray’rs He surely heedeth.

8 Like fowl through heavens flying
And beasts in burrows lying
And flow’rs the lane adorning,
Which gladden in the morning—

9 Shall He who these attendeth
And all things needful sendeth
Forsake us heirs of heaven,
That we should hence be driven?

10 Grant for Thy glory, Father,
This boon o’er every other:
That we may trust Thee solely
And build upon Thee wholly.

11 If but this pray’r be heeded,
The gifts which here are needed
While we this life are living,
He surely will be giving.

12 Far sooner earth and heaven
To ruin would be given
Than they should be forsaken
Who Thee by faith have taken.

Translation © 2022 Matthew Carver.

GERMAN

Nun laßt uns Gottes Güte
uns führen zu Gemüthe;
laßt uns des Vaters Segen
und Liebe recht erwägen.

2 Eh wir ans Licht gesetzet,
hat er uns hoch geschätzet,
und schon aus Liebestrieben
ins Lebensbuch geschrieben.

3 Er hat uns aufgenommen
hier in die Zahl der Frommen,
gemacht zu seinen Erben,
daß wir nicht ewig sterben.

4 Er giebt uns zu erkennen
sein Wort, daß wir ihn nennen
den gütigen Ernährer
und freundlichen Bescherer.

5 Er hat für unser Leben
sein eigen Kind gegeben;
er ließ es gar als Bürgen
für uns am Kreuz erwürgen.

6 Dies lasset uns bedenken,
wenn uns die Sorgen kränken,
das der auf's höchste liebet,
der seinen Sohn hergiebet.

7 Er kann uns nichts versagen,
wenn wir ihm gläubig klagen,
was wir vonnöthen haben
an Seel-und Leibesgaben.

8 Wie Vögel in den Lüften
und Thiere in der Klüften,
ja Blumen an den Wegen
uns dies vor Augen legen.

9 Sollt der, der diese heget
und ihrer fleißig pfleget,
uns, seine Himmelserden,
verlassen zum Verderben?

10 Verleih uns und beschere
uns, Vater! dir zur Ehre,
daß wir dir recht vertrauen
und gänzlich auf dich bauen.

11 Wenn wir nur dieses haben,
so werden uns die Gaben,
der wir zu diesem Leben
bedürfen, wohl gegeben.

12 Der Himmel samt der Erden
muß eh zu nichte werden;
eh du, Gott! die kannst lassen,
die dich im Glauben fassen.