Als Christus war auf Erden

Here is my translation of the Jesus hymn, “Als Christus war auf Erden” (Paul Henkel, d. 1825), in NEGB #93 for the Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity (Gospel: Luke 14:1–11) with melody assignment “Wach auf, mein Herz und singe” (i.e., “Nun laßt uns Gott dem Herren”). The Church Hymn Book (1816ff.) has an English hymn in 7 stanzas of Common Meter, “The Savior’s Love Will Ne’er Grow Faint,” somewhat departing from our German text by introduction of a subjective application at the end.

 

WHEN Christ for our salvation
Came in His incarnation,
His pow’r He manifested,
His wisdom He attested.

2 He saw with deep compassion
His ailing, poor creation,
In every place wherever,
He could forget them never.

3 He healed without restriction
The sick in their affliction;
Man’s Friend and Savior holy
Helps every sinner lowly.

4 He from corruption freeth,
Sin’s pardon, life decreeth
For them who ask sincerely;
His help He shows them clearly.

5 No hour or season binds Him,
No point or place confines Him.
His gifts we can be given
All places under heaven.

6 How great a love He provèd,
By what great love was movèd
When He was slaughtered for us
His heaven to procure us.

7 Humility He’d teach us,
Lest praise of self impeach us,
Would have us reckon solely
That we are small and lowly.

8 For who himself revereth
Great peril thereby neareth;
He first of all creation
May fall to his damnation.

9 To him alone who liveth
In lowliness God giveth
His gifts to have forever
In heaven with his Savior.

Translation © 2023 Matthew Carver.

CHURCH HYMN BOOK

The Savior’s love will ne’er grow faint,
Toward the sons of men;
His gracious ear hears their complaints,
Their cries are not in vain.

2 He proved Himself the sov’reign Lord,
And gave the world to know
What wonders His commanding Word
In every case can do.

3 He pitied man, that helpless worm,
Thus lying in his blood;
What acts of love does He perform,
To make him know his God!

4 The helpless, needy, and the poor
Alike received His aid,
And all were made to know His pow’r,
Who His commands obeyed.

5 What would my Savior do for me,
If I would state my case?
Could I expect that I would be
An object of His grace?

6 How many would be my complaints,
Could I but know in part
My chief diseases and my wants
And evils of my heart!

7 At all events I will presume,
To venture near His throne,
Since Jesus bids all sinners come
And learn what He has done.

GERMAN

Als Christus war auf Erden,
für uns das Heil zu werden,
zeigt er durch Wunderwerke
sein Weisheit, Macht und Stärke.

2 Er sahe mit Erbarmen
auf Kranke und auf Armen,
die waren allerwegen
ihm herzlich angelegen.

3 Er that es nicht versagen,
zu heilen alle Plagen,
der Freund der Menschenkindern
hilft allen Armen Sündern.

4 Er löst sie vom Verderben,
läßt sie in Sünd nicht sterben,
die herzlich zu ihm flehen,
die läßt er Hilfe sehen.

5 Er ist an keine Stunden
an Zeit noch Ort gebunden:
wir können seine Gaben
an allen Orten haben.

6 Wie groß war seine Liebe,
wie groß die Liebestriebe,
als er für uns gestorben,
den Himmel uns erworben.

7 Er will uns Demuth lehren,
daß wir uns selbst nicht ehren,
uns selber so betrachten,
daß wir gering uns achten.

8 Dann wer sich selbst erhöhet,
gewiß gefährlich stehet,
er kann vor andren allen
erst ins Verderben fallen.

9 Nur denen will Gott geben,
die hier in Demuth leben,
daß sie im Himmel haben
auf ewig Gottes Gaben.
‡