Entweiche, Weltgetümmel

Here is my translation of the Transfiguration / Epiphany VI hymn, “Entweiche, Weltgetümmel” (Benjamin Schmolck, d. 1737), in NELG #33 for Epiphany VI (Gospel: Matt. 17:1–9) with melody assignment: “Herzlich thut mich verlangen.” An analogous hymn by Paul Henkel appears in The Church Hymn Book (1816ff.) as “When Christ Was on the Mount Revealed” in 6 stanzas of Common Meter, which I include below, but since the personal devotional framework and self-application is mostly lacking, perhaps it should be seen as a new creation rather than an adaptation of Schmolck’s German, even though covering approximately the same points of the narrative.

  

AWAY, earth’s vain commotion!
I now prepare to fly
In spirit and devotion
To heaven’s verge on high,
And when I have ascended
The mount, my Lord to know
In form transfigured, splendid
With beauty’s choicest glow.

2 I see His count’nance beaming
Like as the sunlight fair,
His garments whitely gleaming
With light beyond compare;
And Moses and Elias
There stand at either hand,
And other servants pious
Of Jesus’ twelvefold band.

3 I hear the voice resounding:
This is My Son belov’d,
My pleasure is abounding
On Him, the One approved
As man’s Propitiation!
It shocks and stirs my heart—
These words of revelation
That heav’nly taste impart!

4 O pastures all excelling!
Here, Lord, ’tis good to be.
Let us build each a dwelling
And part ourselves in three:
One dwelling be for Moses,
And for Elias one,
With Thee my heart reposes;
Of dwellings I ask none.

5 I see in spirit solely;
O God! what shall be known
When in Thy mansions holy
The greatest works are done!
There will I stand unfearing
And fairer dwellings know
No longer disappearing
Like this delightful glow.

6 Meanwhile, O Lord, be ever
Transfigured in my soul,
Withhold Thy radiance never
But keep in mem’ry whole
The rays of sacred story
Till Thou shalt bid me climb
The mount of endless glory
When comes the proper time.

7 My faith a habitation
E’en here for Thee shall build,
My life and conversation
With Moses shall be filled.
Elias, at life’s ending,
Will share his tent with me,
Soon to those huts ascending
Where it is good to be.

Translation © 2023 Matthew Carver.

CHURCH HYMN BOOK

When Christ was on the mount revealed
In his disciples view,
Their hearts with dread and fear was filled,
With joy, and wonder too.

2 Their feeble eyes could scarce behold
The brightness of His face;
The sun with all His glory could,
Dart no such glorious rays.

3 To prove that Jesus was the Lord,
Elias did appear;
And Moses bore the same record,
Whilst both conversed Him there.

4 A gracious voice from heaven came:
This is Mine only Son!
Give praise and honor to His name,
And make His glories known.

5 Should we not wish with him to dwell?
And view him ever more;
Like the disciples, hear and feel
His glory, love and pow'r.

6 Can such a sight of Christ below
Transport our souls with love?
Far greater joys will He bestow,
In the bright world above.

GERMAN

Entweiche, Weltgetümmel!
Mein Geist ist ganz entzückt
bis in den dritten Himmel;
ich habe mich geschickt
auf einen Berg zu steigen,
auf welchem Jesus mir
sich will verklräret zeigen
in auserlesner Zier.

2 Ich seh sein Angesichte,
wie lauter Sonnenschein,
kein Licht strahlt also lichte,
wie seine Kleider fein;
Elias tritt zur Rechten,
zur Linken Moses dar
samt andern treuen Knechten
von der gezwölften Schaar.

3 Ich hör die Stimme schallen:
Das ist mein lieber Sohn,
an dem ich hab Gefallen;
der ist der Gnadenthron!
ein Wort, das mich erschrecket,
und auch zugleich erwekct,
weil es mir hat entdecket,
was nach dem Himmel schmeckt.

4 Ihr angenehmen Auen!
Ach, Herr! hier ist gut sein.
Wir wollen Hütten bauen,
so theilen wir uns drein.
Dir eine, Mosi eine,
und dem Elias ein;
für mich begehr ich keine;
bei dir wird Raum schon sein.

5 Das seh ich nur im Geiste,
ach Gott! was werd ich sehn,
wenn dort das allermeiste
im Himmel wird geschehn!
Da werd ich Hütten finden,
die schön gebauet sein,
und die nicht mehr verschwinden,
wie dieser Freudenschein.

6 Verkläre dich indessen
in meiner Seelen hier,
und laß mich nicht vergessen,
was du für Strahlen mir
in deinem Worte zeigest
bis du zu rechter Zeit
bergauf dort mit mir steigest
zur klaren Ewigkeit.

7 Mein Glauben soll hier eben
dir eine Hütte baun;
man wird in meinem Leben
die Hütte Mosis schaun.
Ich nehm in meinem Sterben
Elias Hütten ein,
dort werd ich Häuser erben,
in denen ist gut sein.