Was wir von Jesu hören

Here is my translation of the Jesus-hymn “Was wir von Jesu hören” (Paul Henkel, d. 1825), in NEGB #97 for the Twenty-first Sunday after Trinity (Gospel: John 4:47–54) with melody assignment “Wach auf mein Herz und singe” (=“Nun laßt uns Gott dem Herren”). The Church Hymn Book (1816ff.) includes an English reworking in 6 stanzas of Common Meter, “When We Our Gracious Lord Entreat,” included below.

 

WHAT we discern from Jesus
Must comfort us and please us,
To know His pow’r relieveth
What soul and body_aggrieveth.

2 When this our soul is ailing,
In grief and sorrow wailing,
Then He will surely cure us,
As His own words assure us.

3 We need but come before Him
And for His help implore Him,
Then will He grant us quickly
Relief from sorrow sickly.

4 Our wounded soul He healeth,
His grace and truth revealeth,
All doubts away are driven
That all our sin’s forgiven.

5 Though He may not be granting
What we from Him are wanting,
He makes us to see clearly
That He will help sincerely.

6 His wondrous works He showeth
And strength on us bestoweth
To overcome all evil,
The world, sin, and the devil.

7 Who will but trust Him purely,
His Word believing surely,
Will find in truth unceasing
Fulfilled His promise pleasing.

8 In God’s most gracious action
Is shown to satisfaction
That He is our Endower
Of Spirit-life and power.

9 True faith He thus supplieth,
Which Satan’s pow’rs defieth,
And here on earth we’re given
A start of life in heaven.

Translation © 2023 Matthew Carver.

CHURCH HYMN BOOK

1 When we our gracious Lord entreat,
And on His word rely;
Though disappointments first we meet:
His grace is ever nigh.

2 Should He at first seem to refuse,
Yet He will grant relief;
Though He reproves and doth accuse
Our doubts and unbelief.

3 Our faith and patience must be tried,
To make us search the ground;
Although at first we are denied,
Yet sure relief is found.

4 Then shall we find His promise true,
Then will His pow’r be known,
And we shall know what Christ can do
When we find what is done.

5 That will produce that living faith,
That will effectual prove;
To ground our hope in life and death,
In Jesus and His love.

6 Now since I evidently see,
My Savior’s grace revealed--
I am assured He e’er will be
My Life, my Guard and Shield.

GERMAN

1 Was wir von Jesu hören
kann uns genugsam lehren,
daß er uns leicht kann retten
aus Leibs- und Seelen-nöthen.

2 Wann unsre kranke Seelen
sich ängsten und sich quälen,
dann wird er uns erweisen
was er uns hat verheißen.

3 Laßt uns nur zu ihm gehen
und ihn um Hilfe flehen,
so wird er uns bald geben
die Kraft zum bessern Leben.

4 Er heilt den Seelenschaden
aus lauter Treu und Gnaden;
er läßt uns auch empfinden
Vergebung unsrer Sünden.

5 Ob er nicht gleich gewähret,
was man von ihm begehret.
So läßt er uns doch sehen,
daß uns muß Hilf geschehen.

6 Er zeig uns Wunderwerke,
wann er uns Kraft und Stärke
gibt, daß wir überwinden
den Teufel, Welt und Sünden.

7 Wers auf sein Wort nur waget
und glaubt fest, was er saget,
den lehren alle Stunden,
was er dabei gefunden.

8 An Gottes Gnadenwerken
kann jede Seele merken,
daß gott ihr hat gegeben,
des Geisteskraft und -leben.

9 Das wirkt den wahren Glauben,
den Satan nicht kann rauben,
so kann dann hier auf Erden
der Himmel auch schon werden.
‡