Gott Vater, dir sei Preis (= Ehr sei Gott in der Höh)

Here is my translation of the doxological stanza, “Gott Vater, dir sei Preis” (Anon., 1657), in ELGB #426, also attached to “O Gott du frommer Gott,” the preceding hymn #425. The Buffalo Synod hymnal gives it the title “Doxology for singing in the previous hymn and also in other cases,” implying its usage with others in this meter, i.e., most notably, “Now thank we all our God.” Indeed, an early instance of this doxology (Goßlar Gsb 1682) is attached to “Nun danket alle Gott” with asterisk. In fact, it is originally 5th stanza of the Gloria in excelsis paraphrase, “Ehr sei Gott in der Höh,” an anonymous adaptation of Decius’s text to the meter of “O Gott du frommer Gott,” first appearing in the Hanover Gsb 1657, printed in Lüneburg. It received a proper melody by W. Weßnitzer in 1665. Peter Sohr’s Musicalischer Vorschmack (1683) gives that hymn a different proper melody, which he also included earlier in Praxis Pietatis Melica (1668) which he edited. However, the Gotha Gsb has it as the 9th stanza of Hermann’s hymn, and evidently comes to our hymnal from that tradition. For completeness’ sake, it seems appropriate to include here the German stanzas of the original hymn, though only the last is of concern for the Buffalo Synod hymnal.

 

PRAISE, God the Father, be
To Thee here and in heaven,
Lord Jesus, God the Son,
Praise e’er to Thee be given.
O God the Holy Ghost,
Praise sound forth unto Thee.
To Thee, O triune God,
Praise, laud, and glory be!

—

 

 

 

PRAISE be to God on high,
Thanks for His grace and favor,
For now no thing can harm
Our blessedness forever:
For now the Most High God
With good will to us bends,
With everlasting peace,
All conflict now He ends.

2 O Father, for Thy grace
Receive our due thanksgiving,
For from eternity
Thou reignest everliving,
Wholly without constraint,
Lord, is Thy wondrous powr!
What but Thy will decides
Must be the selfsame hour.

3 O Jesus Christ, the Son
Begotten of the Father,
Who hast atoned for sin,
Brought God and man together:
O Lamb of God, O Lord,
The God-Man, now give heed:
Have mercy, and receive
Our pray’r in time of need!

4 O precious Holy Ghost,
Thou Fount with comforts running,
Defend us mightily
From Satan’s craft and cunning.
Deliv’rance from all grief,
From pain and need provide,
For we are dearly bought
By Christ the Crucified.

5 Praise, God the Father, be
To Thee here and in heaven,
Lord Jesus, God the Son,
Praise e’er to Thee be given.
O God the Holy Ghost,
Praise sound forth unto Thee.
To Thee, O triune God,
Praise, laud, and glory be!

Translation © 2023 Matthew Carver.

GERMAN

Ehr sei Gott in der Höh,
und Dank für seine Gnade,
daß nun und nimmermehr
uns rühren kann kein Schade:
mit Wohlgefallen sich
der Höchste zu uns wend,
ohn Unterlaß ist Fried,
all Fehde hat ein End.

2 O Vater deiner Gnad
und Gütigkeit, wir danken,
daß du von Ewigkeit
regierst ohn alles Wanken:
ganz ungemessen ist,
Herr, deine Wundermacht,
sehr bald geschicht, was nur [sofort…]
dein Wille hat bedacht.

3 O Jesu Christe, Sohn
des Vaters eingeboren,
Versöhner derer, die
in Sünden ganz verloren:
Lamm Gottes, einger Herr,
o wahrer Mensch und Gott,
erbarme dich, nimm an,
die Bitt in unser Noth.

4 O werther heilger Geist,
du Tröster frommer Christen,
behüt uns kräftiglich,
fürs Satans Tück und Listen.
Errette uns auch sonst
aus Trübsal, Noth und Pein,
die wir durch Christi Tod
so theur erlöset sein.

5 Gott Vater, Dir sei Preis,
hier und im Himmel oben,
Gott Sohn, Herr Jesu Christ!
Dich will ich allzeit loben. [wir wollen dich stets…]
Gott heilger Geist! Dein Ruhm
erschall je mehr und mehr. [erschalle…]
O Herr, dreieinger Gott!
Dir sei Lob, Preis und Ehr.