Lasset uns den Herren lieben

Here is my translation of the hymn “Lasset uns den Herren lieben” (Anon., 1729?), from Ev.-Luth. Gsb #487, a hymn on brotherly love of unknown authorship. Fischer does not mention it. The clean, concise style eschewing the unusual reminds of a Schmolck or Neumeister. Its first appearance known to the translator is the Gotha hymnal of 1729 and the prayerbook associated with it, both printed by Reyher. Here it has the title: “Firmly bound love of God and brother. 1 John 4:19–21” (hence suitable for Trinity I) and falls between two Schmolck hymns with explicit authorship, while the present hymn conspicuously lacks ascription. After this it appears in Hessia-Hamburg 1734 (with mel.: “Gott des Himmels), Silesia 1749, Breslau/Burg 1745ff., Regensburg Sing-Schule 1770, etc. Its inclusion in Breslau explains that ascription in the Gsb für Gemeinden des Ev.-Luth. Bekenntnisses, no. 403 (in 4 sts.). The appointed melody is almost universally “Herr, ich habe mißgehandelt.”

 

LET us love the Lord of heaven,
Whose love first to us was shown
And who in great love was driven,
For our sake to give His Son;
Thus we must, His mercies seeing,
Give Him all our heart and being.

2 This should be our fitting pleasure,
Since we have from God far more
Than our mind can ever measure
Of His love’s unfathomed store,
Yet few deeds can be detected
Whereby words are well reflected.

3 Who to love his Maker claimeth,
Yet his brother doth despise,
Yea, afflicteth and defameth,
Nor will help in Christian wise
Carry any burden pressing—
What of love is he confessing?

4 If he sees his brother ever,
Yet withholds all love and grace,
While conversely he can never
See His God and Maker’s face,
How, since he doth see his brother,
Can he love the unseen Father?

5 Who loves God, who all created,
Let him so with actions prove,
Which is thereby demonstrated,
That he doth his brother love;
For the Lord acclaims this labor:
Lov’st thou God? Then love thy neighbor.

Translation © 2023 Matthew Carver.

GERMAN

Lasset uns den Herren lieben,
denn er hat uns erst geliebt;
Liebe hat ihn angetrieben,
daß er seinen Sohn uns giebt:
unser Herz und alles Leben
sind wir schuldig ihm zu geben.

2 Billig ist es, dies zu leisten,
da Gott ungleich mehr gethan,
wie die Zahl der allermeisten
dieses auch erkennen kann:
gleichwohl sieht man wenig Thaten,
ihren Worten gleich gerathen.

3 Denn wer Gott vermeint zu lieben,
und doch seinen Bruder haßt,
sich nicht scheut, ihn zu betrüben,
und ihm auch die schwerste Last
nicht mag christlich helfen tragen:
was kann der von Liebe sagen?

4 Seinen Bruder sieht er immer,
liebet ihn gleichwohl doch nicht;
dahingegen sieht er nimmer
seines Schöpfers Angesicht:
Sollte wohl dem Unsichtbaren
wahre Liebe widerfahren?

5 Welcher Gott zu lieben meinet,
der erweis es in der That,
so denn aus der Lieb erscheinet
die er zu dem Bruder hat.
Denn dies ist ein Spruch des Höchsten:
Liebst du Gott, lieb auch den Nächsten.