Gott lehret uns in seinem Wort

Here is my translation of the hymn for the opening of school, “Gott lehret uns in seinem Wort” (Paul Henkel, d. 1825), in NEGB #128, with melody assignment “Nun sich der Tag geendet hat.” An English translation indeed exists in the same meter (see below), but lacking a stanza, or rather, with the material of stanzas 3 and 4 combined. However, upon closer inspection, in view of several other differences, it seemed that a more exact translation of the German might be worthwhile.

 

GOD teacheth us in His dear Word,
We ever should assay
To bring up children to the Lord
And raise them in His way.

2 School was established for that cause,
That therein might be taught
The precious Word, the Light that glows
To us from heaven brought.

3 ’Tis praiseworthy and beautiful
To hearing and to sight
When children duly to go school
And are informed aright.

4 Where children day by day are raised
To follow God’s command,
There is the Savior highly praised,
There shall His kingdom stand.

5 True gladness faithful parents share
When church and school go well,
Where tender youth are raised with care
God’s kingdom to indwell.

6 Dear children, learn with diligence
In school, for that is best,
Would ye be wise and full of sense
And also ever blest.

7 Yet hear your God and Him obey,
For so His Word is giv’n;
Then shall ye follow on the way
That brings you unto heav’n.

Translation © 2023 Matthew Carver.

CHURCH HYMN BOOK

God hath commanded in his word,
To teach the tender youth:
In the discipline of the Lord,
And knowledge of the truth.

2 Therefore the christian school is taught,
That rising youth may know,
And learn what ev'ry christian ought
In all their lives to do.

3 It is a pleasing thing to see,
Where virtue is impress'd;
And youth is taught the righteous way,
The way that makes them bless'd.

4 All pious parents do rejoice,
When christian knowledge grows;
And when their children take advice,
Such as the Lord bestows.

5 Dear children take advice and learn,
Obey the Lord's command!
And let it be your chief concern,
His word to understand.

6 God's blessing then will rest on you,
And blessed shall you be;
You shall be blest in all ye do:
Blest to eternity.

GERMAN

Gott lehret uns in seinem Wort,
wir sollen uns bemühn,
daß wir die Kinder immerfort
in seinem Weg erziehn.

2 Dazu hat man die Schul erricht,
daß darin werd gelehrt
das theure Wort, das helle Licht,
das uns von Gott beschert.

3 Das ist wohl löblich, das ist schön,
wo man es sieht und hört,
daß Kinder in die Schule gehn
und werden recht gelehrt.

4 Wo man die Kinder täglich weist
in Gottes Wege gehn,
da wird der Heiland hoch gepreist
und sein Reich wird bestehn.

5 Fromme Eltern die freuen sich,
wann Kirch und Schule blüht;
wo man die Jugend fleißiglich
für Gottes Reich erzieht.

6 Ach, Kinder lernt mit allem Fleiß
in eurer Schule fein,
wollt ihr verständig klug und weis
und auch gesegnet sein.

7 Gehorchet Gott nach seinem Wort,
wie euch gezeiget wird,
so kommt ihr auf dem Wege fort,
der euch zum Himmel führt.
‡