Als die Zeit nun kam heran

Here is my translation of the Cross and Comfort hymn, “Als die Zeit nun kam heran” (Paul Henkel, d. 1825), in NEGB #62 for the Third Sunday after Easter, Jubilate (Gospel: John 16:16–23), with melody assignment “Meinen Jesum laß ich nicht.” The English adaptation in The Church Hymn Book (1816ff.), “When Christ Let His Disciples Know,” consists of 8 stanzas of Common Meter, which I include below.

 

WHEN the time was drawing near
For the Savior’s precious off’ring,
He informed His foll’wers dear
That He must go to His suff’ring:
To deliver us from woe,
He His death must undergo.

2 “But a little while, and ye
Shall not see Me here before you,
But a little while, and see,
I shall come, and not ignore you.
Going to the Father, I
Shall eternal gain supply.”

3 Precious is that word expressed,
Though to the disciples hidden;
It remains for us the best
To confess, as we are bidden,
That our Savior Jesus was
Crucified and died for us.

4 Let the world be glad and sing,
While in mis’ry we are mourning;
It will be the better thing,
Grace and cheer shall be returning,
And the time will come again
That will finish grief and pain.

5 As a woman in travail
Hath her hour of sorrow ever,
Yet joy’s season shall not fail
When she shall the child deliver:
So our godly sorrow ends
When the Son true gladness sends.

6 When the Savior from us goes,
And is to our eyes concealèd,
Then our heart great sorrow knows
Till His face may be revealèd;
Yet the Truth deceiveth not:
What He promised shall be brought.

7 Jesus will see us again,
He doth fill our heart with gladness,
Mighty with us He’ll remain
So that in all cross and sadness
None our joy shall take away
Till He brings the Judgment Day.

Translation © 2023 Matthew Carver.

CHURCH HYMN BOOK

When Christ let his disciples know
That He should soon depart:
And leave them to this world below-
It grieved them to their heart.

2 To them He also testified,
What sorrows they would have:
That they should see Him crucified,
And laid into the grave.

3 Sure that was more distressing still,
Such words as these to hear;
And much contrary to their will,
That Christ such things should bear.

4 They hoped a great and better thing,
When first with Him they joined;
They hoped that He would be their King
And govern to their mind.

5 God’s counsels were to them unknown,
They knew not His decree;
That Jesus should for sin atone,
By dying on the tree.

6 When we first join with Jesus too,
Our hearts are overjoyed;
When we have Him no more in view,
Then is our peace destroyed.

7 Like the disciples we do mourn,
When Jesus disappears;
Like they we find reproach and scorn,
And many doubts and fears.

8 But our great consolation is:
He will return again—
If we but trust His promises,
Our peace shall still remain.

GERMAN

Als die Zeit nun kam heran,
daß der Heiland sollte scheiden,
zeigt ers seinen Jüngern an,
daß er müße gehn ins Leiden,
uns zu retten aus der Noth,
mußt er gehen in den Tod.

2 Über eine kleine Zeit,
werdet ihr mich nicht mehr sehen,
über eine kleine Zeit
werd ich wieder zu euch gehen;
daß ich geh zum Vater hin,
bring euch ewigen Gewinn.

3 Dieses ist ein werthes Wort,
obs die Jünger nicht verstanden,
ist und bleibt uns immerfort
das Beste, daß wir erkunden: [noch das Best…]
daß der Heiland Jesus Christ
an dem Kreuz gestorben ist.

4 Laß die Welt sich damit freun,
wann wir in dem Elend weinen
für uns wirds das Beste sein:
Gnad und Trost wird wieder scheinen.
Es kommt wieder auch die Zeit,
da sich endet alles Leid.

5 Wie ein Weib wenn sie gebährt,
in der Angst und Trauerstunden,
aber wieder Freud erfährt,
wann sie die Erlösung funden,
also folgt die wahre Freud
auf die göttlich Traurigkeit.

6 Wann sich Jesus uns entzieht
und wird unserm Aug verborgen,
so wird unser Herz bemüht,
mit viel Kummer, Angst und Sorgen;
doch die Wahrheit trüget nicht,
sie hält was sie uns verspricht.

7 Jesus läßt sich wiedersehn,
er füllt unser Herz mit Freuden,
kräftig wird er bei uns stehn,
daß in allem Kreuz und Leiden
niemand unsre Freude nimmt,
bis er zum Gerichte kömmt.