Vater aller Gnaden

Here is my translation of the Sunday hymn, “Vater aller Gnaden” (Gottfried Meißner, d. 1690), from Ev.-Luth. Gesangbuch #332. Included in Crüger’s 1712 ed. of Praxis, it is to be distinguished from “Vater aller Ehren” a hymn on the Our Father set to the same melody and first appearing in Freylinghausen. Fischer identifies our hymn as to be sung “before the Sermon,” thus for the Preaching Entrance. Some hymnals include a reference to Sirach 6:35: “Hear gladly the word of God, and mark the good sayings of Wisdom.” The appointed melody is “Jesu, meine Freude.”

FATHER of all graces,
Who from divers places
Bid’st us come today,
Where Thy Word is spoken,
And true faith awoken
In the heav’nly Way;
To us show
Thy face’s glow,
Light our way with ray abounding
Through the dark surrounding.

2 Jesus, Hope most holy
Of all sinners lowly
Sighing after Thee;
Smiles of mercy lend us,
Of our sickness mend us,
Lest we cease to be!
Heart and mind
Let be inclined
Heavenwards, to live forever
Unto Thee, dear Savior.

3 Spirit of salvation,
Mourners’ consolation!
Hearts’ most welcome Guest!
Come and dwell inside us,
Precious gifts provide us,
And refreshment blest:
E’en this hour
Grant by Thy pow’r
That we may in heart be turnèd,
By what here is learnèd.

Translation © 2022 Matthew Carver.

GERMAN

Vater aller Gnaden!
der du hast geladen
uns an diesen Ort,
dein Wort anzuhören,
uns den Weg zu lehren
zu der Himmelspfort:
zu uns richt dein Angesicht,
das uns leucht vor unsern Füßen
in den finsternissen.

2 Jesu, Trost der Sünder!
sieh, wie deine Kinder
kläglich nach dir sehn;
blick uns an in Gnaden,
heil den Seelenschaden,
weil wir sonst vergehn:
Sinn und Herz neig himmelwärts,
daß es einig bleib ergeben,
ewig dir zu leben.

3 Geist des Hochgeliebten!
Tröster der Betrübten!
schönster Herzensgast!
komm mit deinen Gaben
inniglich zu laben,
was du Theures hast.
Gieb jetzund in dieser Stund,
daß dein Diener uns mag lehren,
was uns kann bekehren.