Herr, es steht in deinen Händen

Here is my translation of the hymn, “Herr, es steht in deinen Händen” (Paul Henkel, d. 1825), in NEGB #100 for the Twenty-fourth Sunday after Trinity (Gospel: Matt. 9:18–26) with melody assignment “Freu dich sehr, o meine Seele.” The Church Hymn Book (1816ff.) includes an English reworking in 7 stanzas of Common Meter, “That blessed Gospel we are taught,” which notably adds reference to the Gospel account.

 

IN Thy hands, O Lord, abideth
All our life, and death as well,
For our life at last subsideth,
At Thine hour, which none can tell;
Thou look’st not to rank or name;
Poor and rich to Thee the same;
Mighty lords of earthly power
Turn to dust th’ appointed hour.

2 Many scarce their life are starting,
When death’s summons echo clear,
And they must be hence departing
Yea, though prince’s offspring dear.
Yet they seldom give this thought
Till himself death makes his claim
Only then they start to ponder
Seeking helpers here and yonder.

3 Life and death own Jesus Master,
Very Man and God is He,
Highest Helper in disaster,
Yea, of death the Remedy!
With one word He maketh whole
All the ills of body_and soul.
What He knows most good will do us,
He will surely grant it to us.

4 Let His Word then make us cheerful!
What He says shall never err;
We need not of Him be fearful,
But with confidence secure
Boldly hasten to His ear,
Bare our heart without all fear.
Here and yonder He will give us
What we need, nor ever leave us.

5 Rise, ye souls in sorrow bending,
Who such true affliction know,
To the Savior selves commending
Till He turns your every woe.
Though in death ye fall asleep,
Till the trump your rest to keep,
What He promised here will yonder
Be revealed with greater wonder.

Translation © 2023 Matthew Carver.

CHURCH HYMN BOOK

That blessed Gospel we are taught,
Can prove the Savior’s pow’r;
The miracles that Jesus wrought
Were never wrought before.

2 A ruler’s daughter, as we read,
A lifeless corpse had lain;
But Jesus who can raise the dead,
Raised her to life again.

3 Princes and rulers of this earth,
Who raise their honors high—
Like others of the meanest birth,
They all are born to die.

4 These things are scarcely ever thought,
Or ever cause a tear,
Until the greatest part are brought,
To lie upon the bier.

5 When troubles, sorrows, and distress
Beset the greatest men,
Then they will seek the Savior’s face
To be relieved again.

6 Distress will make us seek the Lord,
If ne’er we did before;
And search the counsels of His Word,
His love, His grace and pow’r.

7 But, oh, His love to man is great,
His gifts are ne’er withheld!
He helps each one in ev’ry state,
Who to His precepts yield.

GERMAN

Herr, est steht in deinen Händen
unser Leben, unser Tod,
unser Leben muß sich enden,
wie du es bestimmst, o Gott:
du siehst hohen Stand nicht an.
Arm und Reiche müssen dran;
große Fürsten dieser Erden
müssen auch zu Leichen werden.

2 Mancher fängt kaum an zu leben,
da ihn doch der Tod schon findt,
seinen Geist muß er aufgeben,
wär er auch ein Fürstenkind.
Doch wird dieses nicht bedacht,
bis der Tod selbst Anspruch macht,
dann will man sich erst umsehen,
und dann erst um Hilfe flehen.

3 Der Herr über Tod und Leben,
Jesus, wahrer Mensch und Gott,
der kann allzeit Hilfe geben,
ja, gar retten von dem Tod;
nur ein Wort aus seinem Mund
machet Leib uns Seel geund,
hat ers für uns gut ersehen,
so läßt ers uns auch geschehen.

4 Sein Wort sollt uns sehr erfreuen,
was er sagt, das fehlet nicht;
dürfen uns vor ihm nicht scheuen,
sondern voller Zuversicht
unverszaget zu ihm gehn,
unser ganzes Herz gestehn;
was uns Noth ist, wird er geben,
hier und dort in jenem Leben.

5 Nur getrost, betrübte Seelen,
die ihr recht betrübet seid,
thut euch Jesum nur befehlen,
bis er wendet alles Leid,
ob ihr gleich im Tod entschlaft,
erst am jüngsten Tag erwacht,
dort läßt euch der Herr erfahren,
was hier die Verheißung waren.
‡