Here is my supplemental translation of the Christian life (Christian mind, conduct) / Ascension hymn “Himmelan geht unsre Bahn” (Benjamin Schmolck, d. 1737), Ev.-Luth. Gsb #473 in a cento of 8 stanzas, originally published in the author’s Bochim und Elim . . . (1731) with title: “Sweet meditation on heaven.” Stier calls it “a biblical hymn on seeking the goal and the prize which is above, likewise, to be sung on the feast of Ascension.” Translations by Cox/Ramsey and Winkworth (perhaps using the same source) omit stanzas 3, 4, and 7, and Winkworth omits stanza 8 in her improved version (I have altered the first few lines to fit the meter). The Cox/Ramsey translation is widespread, e.g., in Common Service Book and Wartburg Hymnal, but Winkworth’s in ELH (Ohio) and seems stronger in a couple parts, so I have used this framework for my supplemental translation of the aforesaid stanzas. The Wisc. hymnal omits stanzas 7 and 9 and appoints the melody “Jesus, meine Zuversicht.”
HEAV’NWARD doth our journey tend,
Here on earth we are but strangers,
Towards our promised land we wend,
Through a wilderness of dangers;
Here we roam a pilgrim band,
Yonder is our native land.
2 Heav’nward stretch, my soul, thy wings,
Thou canst claim a heavenly nature;
Cleave not to these earthly things,
Thou canst rest not in the creature.
Every soul that God inspires,
Back to Him, its Source, aspires.
3 Heav’nward! Only borrowed dust
Can the world to thee be giving;
Thy desire for heaven must
Be for higher treasure striving,
For the treasure that will stay
When the world must pass away.
4 Heav’nward I must have my heart
Also with my truest Treasure,
Who doth quickening impart
Far beyond all earthly measure;
For e’en now in heav’n I am,
If I only think on Him.
5 Heav’nward! doth His Spirit cry,
Oft as in His word I hear Him;
Pointing to the rest on high
Where I shall be ever near Him.
When His Word fills all my thought,
Oft to heaven my soul is caught.
6 Heav’nward still I long to haste,
When Thy Supper, Lord, is given;
Heavenly strength on earth I taste,
Feeding on the Bread of Heaven;
Such is e'en on earth our fare,
Who Thy marriage feast will share.
[7 Heav’nward by that magnet sped
Which within the cross is hidden,
Here my foot on thorns may tread,
Yet I know that, when I’m bidden,
I’ll walk heaven’s rosy path
Which no step of sorrow hath.]
8 Heav’nward! Far beyond the skies
Faith the fairest lot is spying,
And my heart would swiftly rise,
Sun and moon and stars o’erflying,
To that Light behind the veil,
Where all earthly splendors pale.
[9 Heav’nward! To that blessed home
Death at last will surely lead me;
All my trials overcome,
Christ with life and joy will feed me;
Who Himself hath gone before
That we too might heav’nward soar.]
10 Heav’nward! This shall be my cry
While a pilgrim here I wander,
Passing earth's allurements by
For the love of what is yonder;
Heavenward all my being tends,
Till in Heaven my journey ends.
Translation sts 1–2, 5–6, 8–10 C. Winkworth, 1855, alt.
Translation sts 3–4, 7 © 2023 Matthew Carver.
F. Cox / A. Ramsey:
Heav'nward still our pathway tends;
Here on earth we are but strangers,
Till our road in Canaan ends,
Safely passed this wild of dangers;
Here we but as pilgrims rove,
For our home is there above.
2 Heav'nward still, my soul, ascend!
Thou art one of heaven's creations;
Earth can ne'er give aim or end
Fit to fill thy aspirations;
And a heaven-enlightened mind
Ever turns, its source to find.
5 Heav'nward still! God calls to me
In His Word, so loudly speaking;
Glimpses in that Word I see
Of the home I'm ever seeking:
While my heart that call attends,
Still to heaven my path ascends.
6 Heav'nward! this I always think
When He spreads for me His table,
And I taste the meat and drink
That with heavenly strength enable;
After earth's oft bitter bread
There His marriage feast is spread.
8 Heav'nward! far beyond the skies
Faith my portion's joys is counting
Till my heart doth upward rise
Sun and moon and stars surmounting.
All their light cannot compare
With the splendent glory there.
9 Heav'nward still when life shall close,
Death to my true home shall guide me:
Then, triumphant to my woes,
Lasting bliss shall God provide me:
Christ Himself the way has led;
Joyful in His steps I tread.
10 Heav'nward! Heav'nward! this my song.
This my watchword oft repeated.
Here for heaven I fondly long,
Vain delusions all defeated.
Heav'nward all my thoughts ascend
Till in heaven my path shall end.
Catherine Winkworth:
Heavenward doth our journey tend,
Here on earth we are but strangers,
Towards our promised Land we wend,
Thro' a wilderness of dangers;
Here we roam a pilgrim band,
Yonder is our native land.
2 Heavenward stretch, my soul, thy wings,
Thou canst claim a heavenly nature;
Cleave not to these earthly things,
Thou canst rest not in the creature.
Every soul that God inspires,
Back to Him, its Source, aspires.
5 Heavenward! doth His Spirit cry,
Oft as in His word I hear Him;
Pointing to the rest on high
Where I shall be ever near Him.
When His Word fills all my thought,
Oft to heaven my soul is caught.
6 Heavenward still I long to haste,
When Thy Supper, Lord, is given;
Heavenly strength on earth I taste,
Feeding on the Bread of Heaven;
Such is e'en on earth our fare,
Who Thy marriage feast will share.
8 Heavenward! Faith discerns the prize
That is waiting us afar,
And my heart would swiftly rise,
High o'er sun and moon and star,
To that Light behind the veil
Where all earthly splendours pale. (earlier version)
9 Heavenward! To that blessed home
Death at last will surely lead me;
All my trials overcome,
Christ with life and joy will feed me;
Who Himself hath gone before
That we too might heavenward soar.
10 Heavenward! This shall be my cry
While a pilgrim here I wander,
Passing earth's allurements by
For the love of what is yonder;
Heavenward all my being tends,
Till in Heaven my journey ends.
GERMAN
Himmelan geht unsre Bahn,
wir sind Gäste nur auf Erden,
bis wir dort in Canaan durch
die Wüste kommen werden,
Hier ist unser Pilgrimsstand,
droben unser Vaterland.
2 Himmelan schwing dich, mein Geist;
denn du bist ein himmlisch Wesen,
und kannst das, was irdisch heißt,
nicht zu deinem Zweck erlesen.
Ein von Gott erleuchter Sinn
kehrt in seinen Ursprung hin.
3 Himmelan! die Welt kann dir
nur geborgte Güter geben.
Deine himmlische Begier
muß nach solchen Schätzen streben,
die uns bleiben, wenn die Welt
in ihr erstes Nichts zerfällt.
4 Himmelan! ich muß mein Herz
auch bei meinem Schatze haben,
denn es kann mich anderwärts
kein so großer Reichtum laben,
weil ich schon im Himmel bin,
wenn ich nur gedenk an ihn.
5 Himmelan! ruft er mir zu,
wenn ich ihn im Worte höre;
das weist mir den Ort der Ruh,
wo ich einmal hingehöre.
Wenn mich dieses Wort verwahrt,
halt ich eine Himmelfahrt.
6 Himmelan denk ich allzeit,
wenn er mir die Tafel decket,
und mein Geist hier allbereit
eine Kraft des Himmels schmecket.
Nach der Kost im Jammerthal
folgt des Lammes Hochzeitsmahl.
*7 Himmelan! zieht der Magnet,
der im Kreuz verborgen lieget,
wann mein Fuß auf Dornen geht,
und die Hoffnung mich vergnüget,
daß des Himmels Rosenpfad
Keinen sauren Tritt mehr hat.
8 Himmelan! mein Glaube zeigt
mir das schönste Loos von ferne,
daß mein Herz schon aufwärts steigt
über Sonne, Mond und Sterne;
denn ihr Licht ist viel zu klein
gegen jenen Glanz und Schein.
*9 Himmelan! wird mich der Tod
in das rechte Heimat führen,
da ich über alle Noth
ewig werde triumphieren.
Jesus geht mir selbst voran,
daß ich freudig folgen kann.
10 Himmelan, ach himmelan!
das soll meine Losung bleiben.
Ich will allen eitlen Bahn
durch die Himmelslust vertreiben.
Himmelan steht nur mein Sinn,
bis ich in dem Himmel bin.
No comments:
Post a Comment