Ach mein Jesus ist verloren

Here is my translation of the Epiphany I hymn, “Ach mein Jesus ist verloren!” (Paul Henkel, d. 1825), in NEGB #28 with melody assignment “Freu dich sehr, o meine Seele.” An English adaptation, “When Jesus in the Temple stayed,” is found in the Church Hymn Book in 7 stanzas of C M, where the law or sanctifcation language at the ending (from Jesus’ conversation in the Temple) is softened. As it happens, there is a somewhat similar hymn, which we may call an inspiration for our hymn, in Benjamin Schmolck’s “Jesus, Jesus ist verloren,” in 8 stanzas with melody assignment: “Zion klagt mit Angst und Schmerzen.” The whole of that hymn, however, is spiritually constituted as an inner conversation of the Christ-seeker, without Henkel’s narrative rehearsal of the biblical account. The seeker fails to find Jesus in his own heart, so he turns to the Temple. Here the inevitable rhyme appears as in Henkel’s text, but spiritually: “And He is by His example / My Jerusalem, my Temple.” Then the seeker is a finder of consolation and resolves to remain where Jesus is in life and death. Henkel’s hymn, by contrast, if less artful in the German, betrays greater balance of narrative and interpretation and a sense for what, ostensibly, should be inculcated profitably in contemporaneous German-speaking congregants.

 

MARY cried in lamentation:
Jesus, my dear Son, is lost,
Who were else my Consolation—
How my heart by grief is tossed!
Jesus Christ, my Savior, who
Is in all my Comfort true,
Has been left so far behind us,
Shall I find Him, or He find us?

2 She among the trav’lers seeketh,
Hastens to her friends and kin,
Sorrowful to all she speaketh,
Careful in her heart within:
Jesus, name of dearest sound!
Where, oh, where may He be found?
Careless I my way betook me,
In the meantime He forsook me.

3 When without consideration
We the worldly way proceed,
If we lose our consolation,
It is folly’s fitting meed.
Yet doth Jesus true remain,
If we seek Him out again,
He will let Himself be sighted,
And with us be reunited.

4 Lastly coming to the Temple,
Mary found her Jesus there.
Oh! for us a good example:
Jesus is to us laid bare,
If our Savior Christ we seek
Where He wills to be and speak,
In His Holy Word, relieving,
Heart and soul of deepest grieving.

5 Jesus also knowledge giveth
Why He came to us on earth;
He must do, while here He liveth,
What He willed for our rebirth.
He enlighteneth the mind,
Man with God again doth bind,
Teaches us to do His willing,
God the Lord’s commands fulfilling.

Translation © 2023 Matthew Carver.

CHURCH HYMN BOOK

1 When Jesus in the Temple stayed,
When He was but a youth;
And there his fathers will obeyed:
To hear and teach the truth.

2 He was by His dear mother sought,
Who felt herself forlorn!
She sought Him, but she found him not,
Which causèd her to mourn.

3 She sought Him first among the friends
And hoped Him there to see;
but Jesus not always attends
Where He is thought to be.

4 But when, like Mary we pursue
To seek Him where His is:
Like Mary we shall find Him too,
And know His offices.

5 He came to do His fathers will
And make salvation known;
The plan and order to reveal
In which it must be done.

6 Could I like Mary, feel distressed
When absent from this face;
My soul could never be at rest
Till I could feel His grace.

7 Then, like as Mary, I should find
My comforts all renewed:
Faith, hope, and joy and peace of mind,
And union with my God.

GERMAN

Ach mein Jesus ist verloren!
klagte dort die Mutter sein.
Er der mir zum Trost geboren,
betrübt nun das Herze mein.
Er, mein Heiland Jesus Christ,
der mein Trost in allem ist
blieb auf der Reis so dahinten,
daß ich ihn nicht weiß zu finden.

2 Sie sucht ihn bei den Gefährten,
sie läuft zu den Freunden hin,
lauter Sorgen und Beschwerden,
erfüllt ihr daß Herz und Sinn:
ach, der allerbeste Mein!
Wo mag er zu finden sein?
Ich ging sorglos auf den Straßen,
dabei hat er mich verlassen.

3 Wandeln wir ohn Überlegen,
läuft die Welt mit uns davon,
weichet unser Trost deswegen,
so ists unser Thorheit Lohn;
doch bleibt Jesus immer treu,
suchen wir mit Ernst aufs neu,
so läßt er sich wieder finden,
und will uns mit ihm verbinden.

4 Endlich sucht sie in dem Tempel,
fand ihn, weil er dorten war;
ach! für uns ein gut Exempel,
Jesus wird uns offenbar.
Suchen wir ihn, wo er ist,
unsern Heiland Jesum Christ
in dem Wort und unserm Herzen
lindert sich der Seelenschmerzen.

5 Jesus lasset uns auch wissen,
warum er auf Erden kam,
er hat alles wirken müssen,
was er für uns auf sich nahm.
Er erleuchtet den Verstand,
er macht uns mit Gott bekannt;
lehrt uns thun nach seinem Willen,
und des Herrn Gebot erfüllen.
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