Ach, kommt ihr Menschenkinder all

Here is my translation of the Missions / Preaching Office hymn “Ach, kommt ihr Menschenkinder all” (Paul Henkel, d. 1825), in NEGB #78 for the Second Sunday after Trinity (Gospel: Luke 14:16–24) with melody assignment: “Du unbegreiflich höchstes Gut.” The English adpatation in The Church Hymn Book, included below, is (surprisingly) in 8 stanzas of Common Meter, even though Henkel often adapted his works in Long Meter, in which the original was written here. In its eight stanzas, some of the original ideas are omitted, others altered or refined.

 

OH, come, ye children of mankind,
Come to the feast for you designed;
The Lord, your life and and Savior true,
Himself prepared this feast for you.

2 The Lord Himself from heaven came,
Our mis’ry took in humble frame,
Died on the cross and bore our rod,
And reconciled us all with God.

3 To us He sent His servants out;
That none may His salvation doubt:
But all men, poor, rich, young, and old,
Might come where’er this news is told.

4 Oh, come, ye weary, one and all!
Praise God, we in our heav’nly call
May boldly bear the Lord’s behest.
Oh, come, ye surely shall find rest!

5 If daily ye your sins lament,
And ye find else no help is lent,
Come, taste God’s grace and clemency,
Which from transgression sets you free.

6 We are not worthy guests, we own,
God gives us heav’n by grace alone.
Because our Savior Christ for us
Was sacrificed upon the cross.

7 Therefore do not yourself excuse,
As many a man among us does,
Who rather flesh and world respects
And God’s auspicious grace neglects.

8 These worldly riches, fame, and ease,
As much as they the flesh appease,
Bring no true joy into the heart,
But heartache in the end impart.

9 In Jesus’ name we venture forth
And to His house invite the earth:
O come, O come, ye lame and blind,
And ye will soon your healing find!

10 Oh, yes, there is yet room and place,
Oh, follow but the train of grace,
The Lord bids every sinner come
To fill His house of Christendom.

11 Oh, yet, alas! Do not delay,
Or meet what here the Lord doth say,
Of every once-invited guest,
None shall of this My banquet taste

Translation © 2023 Matthew Carver.

CHURCH HYMN BOOK

Ye sons of men, come one and all!
Come to the Gospel feast;
Obey your blessed Savior’s call:
O come and be His guest!

2 We bear his message unto you,
Commissioned by the Lord—
His promises, come prove them true,
And trust unto His Word.

3 All things for you are ready now,
And precious is the treat!
And all you need He will bestow,
To make your joys complete.

4 We pray that you may all draw near,
And to the call attend;
They who refuse our call to hear,
Cannot be Jesus’ friend.

5 Nothing pertaining to this life,
Should cause you to delay—
Not land or oxen, or a wife,
Keep you from Christ away.

6 Be ye not like the stubborn Jews,
Who all his calls disdained!
Because they did his grace refuse!
His curse on them remained.

7 He calleth not the Jews alone,
But all who will receive;
Come poor and needy, every one
Come ye to him and live.

8 But come ye, now make no delay!
O come with speed and haste:
Lest He should in displeasure say—
My feast ye shall not taste.

GERMAN

Ach, kommt ihr Menschen-Kinder all,
kommt zu dem großen Abendmahl;
der Herr, der hat für euch bereit,
das Leben und die Seligkeit.

2 Der Herr vom Himmel selber kam,
und unser Elend sich annahm,
er starb für uns den Kreuzes-Tod,
versöhnte uns auch all mit Gott.

3 Hat uns die Knechte ausgesandt,
wir machen euch das Heil bekannt:
ihr Arme, Reiche, Jung und Alt,
die ihrs jetzt höret kommt doch bald.

4 Kommt ihr Beladne allesammt,
Gott lob, daß wir in unserm Amt
getrost euch darfen rufen zu,
ach, kommt gewiß, ihr findet Ruh.

5 Klagt euch die Sünde täglich an,
ist niemand der euch helfen kann:
kommt schmeckt was Gottes Gnade sei,
die euch macht von den Sünden frei.

6 WIr sind den Himmel zwar nicht werth;
doch wird er uns aus Gnad beschert:
weil unser Heiland Jesus Christ
für uns am Kreuz gestorben ist.

7 Darum entschuldigt euch doch nicht,
wie es bei manchem oft geschiecht:
sie gehn mit Fleisch und Welt zu Rath,
und bleiben von der großen Grad.

8 Reichthum und Ehre dieser Welt,
so sehr es auch dem Fleisch gefällt,
bringt keinem Herzen wahre Freud,
nur schafts am Ende Herzeleid.

9 Wir gehn im Namen Jesu aus,
und laden alle in sein Haus:
ihr Lahme, Blinde, kommt herein,
so wird euch bald geholfen sein.

10 Ach ja, es ist noch Raum genug,
ach folget nur dem Gnaden-Zug,
der Herr ruft alle Sünder bei,
damit sein Haus gefüllet sei.

11 Doch aber ach! versäumert nicht,
sonst trifft euch, was der Herr dort spricht:
von den geladnen Gästen all,
schmeckt keiner dies mein Abendmahl.