Here is my supplement and alteration of the Moravian translation of the Christian simplicity hymn, “Heilge Einfalt! Gnadenwunder!” (August Gottlieb Spangenberg, 1792), found in a 12-stanza revised form in Ev.-Luth. Gsb #500. It first appears in 19 stanzas in the Unitas Fratrum hymnal of 1741 with the title: “Of Simplicity in Christ.” During the author’s lifetime and under his auspices it was abbreviated to 12 stanzas and, in revised form, entered the Moravian hymnal of 1778. J. P. Lange, Hymnologie, p. 55, calls it “spirit-filled and heartfelt.” Cunz, II, p. 77, calls it “an image of the Christian character of the author.” According to Bunsen, says Julian, it was written as a birthday hymn for the author’s sister. In my composite translation I attempt to show the complete original form from which the abbreviated one may be deduced (with a couple variant stanzas). The appointed melody is “Ringe recht.”
SIMPLE mind, thou holy splendor,
Deepest wisdom, greatest might,
Fairest jewèl, love’s defender,
Wisest valor in the fight!
2 Freedom is by chains surrounded,
Riches are but wind and dust.
Beauty is at last confounded,
If we have not simple trust.
3 When simplicity we cherish,
Then the soul is full of light:
But that view away doth perish,
Soon as double grows our sight.
4 With this gift a man is blessèd,
For he looks but to the Lamb;
Double minds will be disgracèd,
For they live in lightless flame.
5 True simplicity thinks solely
Of the One who hath all might,
And to Him adhereth wholly
As the Magnet infinite.
6 True simplicity outfloweth
From the Savior’s wounds and blood;
He who never thither goeth
Far remaineth from that good.
*7 If we know our Jesus rightly,
Who the Curse for us became,
And our love to Him burns brightly—
This simplicity we name.
8 Who before his eyes the Savior
Still as crucified doth see,
In His life-blood living ever—
He has true simplicity.
9 Who in Jesus finds all savor,
Who to Jesus looks alone,
Who doth Jesus’ quickning favor,
Who prefers His voice’s tone;
10 Who like some poor dog and lowly,
Laps the blood His wounds have shed,
Who within His bosom holy
As an infant makes his bed;
11 Who His pleasure only chooseth,
Who but what He bids, can do,
Who but what He giveth, useth,
Whose life all from Him doth flow;
12 Who on His path only moveth,
And sees only by His light;
Who grace! grace! alone approveth
From all else estrangèd quite;
13 Who so deeply doth adore Him
That his own self he forgets;
Who is troubled only for Him,
And whom only He elates;
14 Who alone by Jesus holdeth,
And in Him doth all possess:
On the Rock alone he buildeth,
Walks the path of simpleness.
15 Blood-bought church! shall I declare it,
What for thee my thoughts desire?
Ever fly on grace’s chariot,
Which is borne by wheels of fire.
16 Let the Savior still be driving,
He knows every passage well,
Knows when harder to be striving,
And when softer to compel.
17 Over stone and hillock goes it?
Sit but still, th’ event ne’er doubt;
Help Him not, alone He does it,
Thou in faith may’st look about.
18 Let thy mind not be too stirrèd;
Eat and drink, and love and rest!
Why should any child be worried;
Close thine eyes! His way is best.
19 Let Him work, for He will tend it
So that thou wilt be amazed;
Leave thy case to Him, to mend it,
As thy Prince forever praised.
Translation sts. 3, 5, 7–10, 16, 18–19 © 2023 Matthew Carver.
Alterations © 2023 Matthew Carver.
12-Stanza Version (Ev.-Luth. Gsb #500):
SIMPLE mind, thou holy splendor,
Deepest wisdom, greatest might,
Fairest jewèl, love’s defender,
Wisest valor in the fight!
2 Freedom is by chains surrounded,
Riches are but wind and dust.
Beauty is at last confounded,
If we have not simple trust.
3 When simplicity we cherish,
Then the soul is full of light:
But that view away doth perish,
Soon as double grows our sight.
4 (4v) Born of grace, this gift amazing
Bright with Christian valor burns,
On the narrow pathway gazing,
And no other way discerns.
5 True simplicity thinks solely
Of the One who hath all might,
And to Him adhereth wholly
As the Magnet infinite.
6 True simplicity outfloweth
From the Savior’s wounds and blood;
He who never thither goeth
Far remaineth from that good.
7 (9) Who in Jesus finds all savor,
Who to Jesus looks alone,
Who doth Jesus’ quickning favor,
Who prefers His voice’s tone;
8 (11v) Who but what He giveth, useth,
Whose life all from Him doth flow,
Who His pleasure only chooseth,
Who but what He bids, can do;
9 (12) Who on His path only moveth,
And sees only by His light;
Who grace! grace! alone approveth
From all else estrangèd quite;
10 (13) Who so deeply doth adore Him
That his own self he forgets;
Who is troubled only for Him,
And whom only He elates;
11 (14) Who alone by Jesus holdeth,
And in Him doth all possess:
On the Rock alone he buildeth,
Walks the path of simpleness.
12 (19v) He who is by Christ directed,
Trusting the good Shepherd’s care,
He is graciously protected,
And no danger needs to fear.
Translation sts. 3, 4v, 5, 7–10, 16, 18–19 © 2023 Matthew Carver.
Alterations © 2023 Matthew Carver.
Moravian Hymn-Book 1809.
3v When simplicity we cherish,
Then the soul is full of light:
But that light will quickly vanish,
When of Jesus we lose sight.
11 He who naught but Christ desireth,
He whom nothing else can cheer
But the joy which He inspireth,
Lending to His voice an ear;
13 Who sincerely loveth Jesus
And upon His grace depends;
Who but willeth what Him pleases,
Simply foll’wing His commands;
9? Who to Jesus humbly cleaveth,
Pays obedience to His Word,
Yea, in closest union liveth
With our Savior, Head, and Lord,
14 Who in Jesus Christ abideth,
And from self-dependence free
In naught else but Him confideth:
Walks in true simplicity.
19v He who is by Christ directed,
Trusting the good Shepherd’s care,
He is graciously protected,
And no danger needs to fear
Moravian Hymn-Book 1754.
1 Simple mind, thou grace’s wonder`
Deepest wisdom, greatest might,
Fairest jewel, love’s defender,
Most successful Christian fight!
2 Liberty does walk in fetters,
Riches are but empty wind,
Beauty has some ugly features,
If we’re not of simple mind.
3 When simplicity we cherish,
We’ve a whole and perfect light;
But that view away will vanish,
Soon as double grows our sight.
4 With this gift, a man is blessèd,
He looks only at the Lamb;
But without it, still diseasèd,
For one stands in some dark flame.
6 True simplicity, whence comes it?
From the wounds and blood divine.
Vainly anyone assumes it,
Who ne’er learn it at that Shrine.
8 ’Fore whose eyes the Lamb’s dear figure
Still as crucified doth stand,
Who in blood lives altogether;
He right holiness has gained.
9 To whom welcome taste presenteth
Naught, if Jesus be not there;
Whom naught out of Him contenteth,
Who has but for Him an ear;
10 Who to His red wounds for pasture,
As a hungry insect flies;
Who like a weak child for nurture,
Hid in His dear bosom lies;
11 Who but willeth what Him pleases,
Who but what He bids, can do,
Who but what He giveth, uses,
Whose life all from Him does flow;
12 Who on His path only moveth,
And sees only by His light;
Who grace! grace! alone approveth
From all else estrangèd quite;
13 Who’s so struck with His love’s arrows,
That his own self he forgets;
Who about Him only sorrows,
And but He his joy creates;
14 Who alone by Jesus holdeth,
And in Him does all possess:
He it is, who on Him buildeth,
He walks too in holiness.
15 Blood-bought church! shall I declare it,
What for thee my thoughts desire?
Ever fly on grace’s chariot,
Which is borne by wheels of fire.
16 Of the reins let Him be holder,
He can well the way contrive;
He knows when He swift and bolder
And when softly He shall drive.
17 Over stone and hillock goes it?
Sit but still, th’ event ne’er doubt;
Help Him not, alone He does it,
Thou in faith may’st look about.
19 Let Him work, in the conclusion
Thou wilt be astonishèd;
Jesus thy affairs will think on,
As thy ever-loving Head.
GERMAN
Heilge Einfalt! Gnadenwunder!
tiefste Weisheit! größte Kraft!
schönste Zierde! Liebeszunder!
Werk, das Gott alleine schafft! [allerklügste Ritterschaft]
2 Alle Freiheit geht in Banden,
aller Reichtum ist nur Wind;
alle Schönheit wird zu Schanden,
wenn wir ohne Einfalt sind.
3 Wenn wir in der Einfalt stehen,
ist es in der Seele licht;
aber wenn wir doppelt sehen,
so vergeht uns das Gesicht.
4 Einfalt ist ein Kind der Gnade, [Bei der Einfalt ist man selig]
eine kluge Ritterschaft, [denn man siehet nur aufs Lamm]
die auf ihrem schmalen Pfade [ohne Einfalt ist man schmählig]
nicht nach dem und jenem gafft. [denn man steht in finstrer Flamm].
5 Einfalt denkt nur auf das Eine,
in dem alles Andre steht;
Einfalt hängt sich ganz alleine […hänget sich alleine]
an den ewigen Magnet.
6 Einfalt quillt aus Jesu Wunden,
mit dem theuren Gottesblut;
wer sie da nicht hat gefunden,
der ist fern von diesem Gut.
*7 Wenn wir Jesum recht erkennen
unser liebs Anathema,
und so gegen ihn entbrennen,
so ist auch die Einfalt da.
*8 Wenn er so vor Augen schwebet,
wie er aufgehänget ward;
wer in seinem Blut so lebet,
der hat rechte Einfaltsart.
9 Wem sonst nichts als Jesus schmecket,
wer allein auf Jesum blickt; [wem nur Jesus lieblich riecht]
wessen Ohr nur Jesus wecket;
wen nichts außer ihm erquickt: […vergnügt.]
*10 Wer als wie ein armes Hündlein
seine blutge Wunden leckt;
wer sich als ein kleines Kindlein
in den Liebesschoß versteckt;
11 Wer nur hat, was Jesus giebet; […will was dem beliebet]
wer nur lebt aus seiner Füll; […kann was Jesus will]
wer nur will, was ihm beliebet; […hat was Jesus giebet]
wer nur kann, was Jesus will; […lebt aus seiner Füll;]
12 Wer nur geht auf seinem Pfade;
wer nur sieht bei seinem Licht;
wer nur stets verlangt nach Gnade, [wer nur schreit als Gnade!…]
und mag alles Andre nicht.
13 Wer ihn so mit Inbrunst liebet, […sich so in ihn verliebet,]
daß er seiner selbst vergißt;
wer sich nur um ihn betrübet,
und in ihm nur fröhlich ist;
14 Wer allein auf Jesum trauet,
wer in Jesu Alles findt; […hat]
der ist auf den Fels erbauet,
und ein seligs Gnadenkind. [und geht auf der Einfalt Pfad.]
*15 Blutgemeine soll ich sagen?
was dir meine Seele gönnt:
fahre auf dem Gnadenwagen
der mit Feuerrädern rennt.
*16 Laß den Heiland Furhmann bleiben,
er kennt alle Wege wohl,
er weiß wenn er stark soll treiben,
wenn er sachte gehen soll.
*17 Geht es über Stock und Steine,
sitz nur still, es wird schon gehn.
Hilf ihm nicht, er machts alleine;
doch du magst wohl um dich sehn.
*18 Leg dich nicht zu sehr aufs Denken!
Iß und trink, und lieb und ruh!
was soll sich ein Kindlein kränken?
Thue deine Augen zu!
19 Wohl dem, der den Herrn läßt machen, [Laß ihn machen, er wirds…]
wohl ihm, der Herr ist sein Hirt! [daß du dich verwundern wirst.]
Jesus wartet seiner Sachen, [Jesu warte ihrer Sachen]
daß man sich verwundern wird. [als ihr wohlgewogner Fürst!]
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