Interrupting the gleaning of Wisconsin Hymnal for the commemoration of the Reformation, I here present my translation of the Church and Reformation hymn, “Wenn Christus seine Kirche schützt” (Christian Fürchtegott Gellert, d. 1769) which does not generally appear in Lutheran synodical hymnals in America. It was first published in the author’s Geistliche Oden und Lieder (1757) with the title “Defense of the Church.” Fischer opines: “Although the poet strikes the tone of faith’s confidence, the sound of the strings remains somewhat muted.” Paul Graff in his Geschichte der Auflösung . . ., (2nd ed.) II, p. 108, states: “Gellert’s Reformation hymn, ‘Wenn Christus seine Kirche schützt’ . . . threatened to supersede the hymn ‘Ein feste Burg,’ was taken up into many hymnals, and also received a proper melody (Kümmerle IV, p. 212).” There Kümmerle notes that when the Rationalists could not accept the objectivity of Luther’s hymn but did not know how to substitute anything for it, this hymn presented the desired solution. — The melody is the later form of “Ein feste Burg” with the extra syllable in the fifth line. Note that the second line of each stanza is echoed or repeated in the last.
WHEN Christ defends His Church with might,
Then hell may rage with fury!
He who sits at the Father’s right
Remains both Judge and Jury;
His help is near in woe;
When He commands, ’tis so!
He saves His glory e’er
And Christians everywhere;
Then let hell rage with fury!
2 God sees the rulers on their throne,
Who rise and plot together
Against the Lord, th’ anointed Son,
Nor will revere Him either;
They care not for the Word
Of Christ the saving Lord,
His cross they think to shame,
Yet God shall laugh at them.
Then let them plot together!
3 Though truth by scoffers be despised,
’Twill not from us taken;
While ’gainst it fights the Antichrist,
To faith we cleave unshaken,
To Jesus Christ be praise!
Who here walks in His ways
And truly keeps His Word,—
Then by no worldly horde
Shall bliss from him be taken.
4 Arise, ye Christians, dear to God,
And let no threat affect you!
He who from heaven sees their fraud
Most surely will protect you!
The Lord of Sabaoth
Preserves His Law and oath,
Gives patience in distress,
In death true fearlessness:
What then shall terrify us?
Translation © 2022 Matthew Carver.
GERMAN
Wenn Christus seine Kirche schützt:
So mag die Hölle wüten;
Er, der zur Rechten Gottes sitzt,
Hat Macht ihr zu gebieten.
Er ist mit Hülfe nah;
Wenn er gebeut, stehts da.
Er schützet seinen Ruhm,
Und hält das Christenthum;
Mag doch dir Hölle wüten!
2 Gott sieht die Fürsten auf dem Thron
Sich wider ihn empören;
Denn den Gesalbten, seinen Sohn,
Den wollen sie nicht Ehren.
Sie schämen sich des Worts,
Des Heilands, unsers Horts;
Sein Kreuz ist selbst ihr Spott:
Doch ihrer lachet Gott.
Sie mögen sich empören.
3 Der Spötter mag die Wahrheit Schmähn;
Uns kan er sie nicht rauben.
Der Unchrist mag ihr widerstehn;
Wir halten vest am Glauben,
Gelobt sey Jesus Christ!
Wer hier sein Jünger ist,
Sein Wort von Herzen hält,
Dem kann die ganze Welt
Die Seligkeit nicht rauben.
4 Auf Christen, die ihr ihm vertraut,
Laßt euch kein Drohn erschrecken!
Der Gott, der von dem Himmel schaut,
Wird uns gewiß bedecken.
Der Herr, Herr Zebaoth
Hält über sein Gebot,
Giebt uns Geduld in Noth,
Und Kraft und Muth im Tod;
Was will uns dann erschrecken.
