Sei Lob, Ehr', Preis und Herrlichkeit

Here is my translation of the Trinity hymn, “Sei Lob, Ehr', Preis und Herrlichkeit” (Anon., 1566), in ELGB #208, originally appearing in the appendix to the great Bohemian Brethren hymnal, Kirchengeseng (1566), with title “Sit laus honos et gloriae,” indicating its ancient Latin basis. The appointed melody is “Erhalt uns, Herr, bei deinem Wort.” A couple original melodies were later invented for it and are discussed in Kümmerle.

 

PRAISE, honor, laud, and majesty
To God the Father ever be,
Who all things made, and o’er them reigns,
And by His godly grace sustains.

2 Praise also be to His dear Son,
Who all good things for us hath done,
Who on the cross for us hath died,
And for us opened heaven wide.

3 Praise also to the Spirit be,
Who by His grace especially
Hath willed the truth to make us know,
And light our mind with heav’nly glow.

4 O Holy, blessed Trinity
O single, true Divinity,
In mercy all our needs redress
And bring us into blessedness.

Translation © 2023 Matthew Carver.

GERMAN

Sei Lob, Ehr', Preis und Herrlichkeit,
Gott dem Vater in Ewigkeit,
der alle ding' erschaffen hat
und erhält durch sein' göttlich' Gnad.

2 Ehr' sei auch seinem lieben Sohn,
der uns all's gutes hat gethan,
der am Creuz für uns gestorben
und den Himmel uns erworben.

3 Ehr' sei auch Gott dem Heil'gen Geist,
der uns durch sein' Gnad' allermeist
die Wahrheit wollen mach'n bekannt
und eröffnen unsern Verstand.

4 O heilige Dreifaltigkeit!
o wahre einige Gottheit!
erhör' uns aus Barmherzigkeit
und führe' uns zu der Seligkeit.