Here is my supplement to and alteration of the Moravian translation, “O Sweet Condition, Happy Living” (later: “O Blest Condition…”), of the hymn “O süßer Stand, o selig Leben” (Johann Joseph Winckler, d. 1722), Ev.-Luth. Gsb #499. Julian says that the 1754 omits stanza 3; rather, st. 4 is omitted, which I provide here. The 1789 version in the 1809 hymnal has further dropped stanza 3 and 5 and combined stanzas 7 and 8, and what is left is generally less faithful and only slightly more singable. The appointed melody in the Wisc. hymnal is “Die Tugend wird durchs Kreuz geübet.” (also used, e.g., with the hymn “Ich bin im Himmel angeschrieben’).
O SWEET estate, O blessèd living,
That flows from true simplicity,
When hearts, to God devoutly given,
Christ’s thinking filleth utterly;
The spirit in Christ’s image walketh,
And is upraised in light and right,
And under this pure Buckler breaketh
And pulls down every cheating height.
2 What by the world is fair esteemèd,
Such hearts disdain as childish stuff;
What is by others harmless deemèd,
For all such hearts is far too rough:
And why? We must with joys terrestrial
And things unclean not idly play;
None can obtain the Prize celestial
Unless all else be cast away.
3 The dainties of the heav’nly Lover
Unto His bride sweet pleasure give,
Her head and heart she watches over:
And if aught else to her would cleave,
Which of the worldly spices favors,
It fills her heart with hellish pain;
But she to live in God endeavors,
And therefore shakes herself quite clean.
4 The soul from worldly aggravation
Is kept by Christ’s simplicity
In Horeb’s cave, her gloomy station
She seeks her God and shelt’ring lee.
When hypocrites, this world’s adherents,
In pleasures vain and idle life
Act pompously, with fair appearance,
’Tis then she feels how hard and strife.
5 Simplicity admits no glory,
But that which lies in Jesus’ blood.
All folly false and transitory
Is by the heav’nly thirst subdued.
In God’s unspotted child, the splendor
Of God’s own name shines wondrously;
How should His child again surrender
To winds of worldly vanity?
6 Of cares and manifold distresses
With which the world is taken so—
Of envy, which the crowd possesses—
Simplicity doth nothing know
Within her heart she keeps her treasure
Against a world of envious spite;
If someone longs to share her pleasure,
It fills her heart with all delight.
7 A heart that doth th’ adornment carry
Of Christ’s simplicity, how bright!
Ye foolish virgins, ye may tarry
Till overtaken by the night:
What can your precious lamps avail you,
Without the oil and mind of Christ!
Fetch for your soul what will not fail you,
And leave the world its trifles prized!
8 Imprint, O Jesus, my Salvation!
Thy single mind into my heart:
Root out the world’s infatuation
Though it a thousand stings impart;
The ancient dragon’s token, scornèd,
I wear no longer; let me now
With true simplicity adornèd,
A creature new, before Thee bow.
Translation stanza 4 © 2023 Matthew Carver.
Alterations in sts. 1–3, 5–8 © 2023 Matthew Carver.
Moravian Hymn-Book 1754:
O sweet condition, happy living,
Which flows from true simplicity!
When hearts unto God so are given,
That Christ’s mind fills them reàlly.
The spirit in Christ’s Image walketh,
And doth rise up in truth an dlight,
And under this pure Shield he breaketh
And pulls odwn all conceited height.
2 The things which others are esteeming,
By such are loathèd with disdain;
What others innocent are deeming,
Gives to such hearts a jealous pain:
And why? Because all things terrestrial,
All things impure are bitter gall:
One can’t obtain the Prize celestial,
Unless one bid farewell to all.
4 The dainties of the heav’nly Lover
Unto His bride full pleasure give,
Her Head and Heart she watches over:
And if aught else to her would cleave,
Which of the worldly spices favors,
It fills her heart with hellish pain;
But she to live in God endeavors,
And therefore shakes herself quite clean.
5 Simplicity knows of no glory,
But that, which is in Jesus’ blood.
The foolish honor transitory
Is by the heav’nly thirst subdued.
In a pure child of God, the splendor
Of God’s name is distinctly seen;
How then should it again surrender
To trash and foolishness terrene?
6 Of cares and manifold distresses
Which are the worldlings’ daily cant,
Of envy, which so many teazes,
Simplicity is ignorant:
She keeps her excellent heart-treasure,
Maugre black envy’s sullen spite;
And if some one would share her pleasure,
She does not grudge, ’tis her delight.
7 A heart that does a likeness carry
Of Christ’s simplicity, how bright!
Ye foolish virgins, you may tarry
Till overtaken by the night:
Lamps without oil and Christ’s mind single,
What do they profit? Then be wise,
And Christ and world no longer mingle,
But from your heart the world despise.
8 Imprint, O Jesus, my Salvation!
Thy single mind into my heart:
Root out the world’s infatuation
Though it be done with sharpest smart;
Th’ old dragon’s image I have scornèd,
I wear it not more; now let me,
With true simplicity adornèd,
As a new crature, live to Thee.
Moravian Hymn-Book 1809.
1 O Blest condition, happy living,
Which true simplicity imparts,
When we to God are wholly given,
And Jesus’ mind rules in our hearts!
This every vain imagination
Casts down, and us subjects to grace.
It shows the ground of our salvation
To be Christ’s blood and righteousness.
2 That which is by the world esteemèd,
A single mind counts vanity;
What’s innocent by others deemèd,
Is shunned by true simplicity:
Because the love to things terrestrial
We must deny through Jesus’ grace,
And, to obtain the prize celestial,
Cast of whate’er impedes our race.
6 The simple heart no care perplexeth
That robs the world of all content;
Of envy, which so many vexeth,
Simplicity is ignorant;
And carefully preserves its treasure,
Unruffled by the worldling’s spite;
If others ask to share this pleasure,
Simplicity tastes true delight.
7/8 O Jesus, God of my salvation,
Thy single mind to me impart;
Root out the world’s infatuation,
Though it be done with keenest smart:
Thrice happy they, who tread unwearied
The path of true simplicity;
They as wise virgins are preparèd
To meet the Bridegroom cheerfully.
GERMAN
O süßer Stand, o selig Leben,
das aus der wahren Einfalt quillt,
wenn sich ein Herz Gott so ergeben,
daß Christi Sinn es ganz erfüllt;
wenn sich der Geist, nach Christi Bilde,
in Licht und Recht hat aufgericht,
und unter solchem klaren Schilde
durch alle falsche Höhen bricht.
2 Was andern schön und lieblich scheinet,
ist solchem Herzen Kinderspiel;
was mancher für unschuldig meinet,
Ist solchem Herzen schon zu viel.
Warum? Es gilt der Welt absagen,
hier heißts: rührt kein Unreines an;
das Kleinod läßt sich nicht erjagen,
es sei denn Alles abgethan.
3 Die Himmelskost schmeckt viel zu süsse
dem Herzen, das in Jesu lebt.
die Braut bewahrt Haupt, Herz und Füße;
und wo ihr etwas noch anklebt,
das zu dem Glanz der Welt gehöret,
das ist ihr lauter Höllenpein,
und wo sie recht in Gott einkehret,
da macht sie sich von Allem rein.
4 Die Einfalt Christi schleißt die Seele
vor allem Weltgetümmel zu;
da sucht sie in der dunkeln Höhle,
in Horeb, Gott Und ihre Ruh;
wenn sich das Heuchelvolk in Lüsten
der Welt und ihrer Eitelkeit,
auch wohl bei gutem Schein will brüsten,
fühlt jene Kampf und harten Streit.
5 Die Einfalt weiß von keiner Zierde,
als die im Blute Christi liegt;
die reine Himmlische Begierde
hat solche Thorheit schon besiegt;
an einem reinen Gotteskinde
glänzt Gottes Name schön und rein;
wie könnt es denn vom eitlen Winde
der Welt noch eingenommen sein?
6 Von Sorgen, Noth und allen Plagen,
damit die Welt sich selbst anficht,
vom Neid, damit sich andre tragen,
weiß Christi Sinn und Einfalt nicht,
den Schatz den sie im Herzen heget,
behält sie wider allen Neid;
ist Jemand der Lust dazu träget,
das macht ihr lauter Herzensfreud.
7 O schönes Bild, ein Herz zu schauen,
das sich mit Christi Einfalt schmückt!
Geht hin, ihr thörichten Jungfrauen,
harrt nur bis euch die Nacht berückt.
Was sind die Lampen sonder Oele?
Schein ohn Einfalt und Christi Sinn.
Sucht doch was Bessers für die Seele,
und gebt der Welt das Ihre hin.
8 Ach Jesu, drücke meinem Herzen
den Sinn der lantern Einfalt ein:
reiß aus, obschon mit tausend Schmerzen,
der Welt ihr Wesen, Tand und Schein;
des alten Drachen Bild und Zeichen
trag ich nicht mehr, drum laß mich nur
der Einfalt Zier und Schmuck erreichen,
das ist die neue Creatur.
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