Herr Jesu, wahrer Seelenhirt

Here is my translation of the Confirmation hymn, “Herr Jesu, wahrer Seelenhirt” (Paul Henkel, d. 1825), in NEGB #124, with melody assignment “Es ist gewisslich an der Zeit.” The title is “At the confirmation of the young.” However, the content seems applicable to cases of in which church discipline has been administered; or at least a dose of repentance-preaching and due humbling is embedded. The English counterpart in The Church Hymn Book (1816ff.), “O Jesus, Faithful Shepherd, Lord,” is composed in 6 stanzas of Long Meter.

 

LORD Jesus, Shepherd of the way,
And Friend of mortals lowly
Thou seek’st the sheep that go astray
And mak’st the sinner holy;
Their Life, their Lord, their Righteousness,
Thou freest them from all distress
Who heartily will seek Thee.

2 Behold with pity, not with wrath,
The flock before Thee growing;
None else can save them from the path
On which they have been going—
The path that leads to death for aye,
The path on which they go astray
As sheep without direction.

3 Before their birth Thou didst begin
To be their Lord and Savior,
Nor leav’st them on the path of sin
That they should die forever;
Thy blood hath bought Thy children prized,
And in Thy name they were baptized
And with Thy hand were hallowed.

4 Oh, that the cov’nant they ignore,
And yet feel not convicted!
Their heart should have been wounded sore,
Their souls, have been afflicted,
That they lived not before Thee so,
Nor sought the good as they did owe,
And as Thou hast commanded.

5 O Father, righteous God, forgive
Their sin and their transgression,
And let them in Thy favor live,
For Jesus’ death and Passion;
Thou wilt not banish from Thy grace
Those, Lord, who will but seek Thy face.
On these poor souls have mercy!

6 May they again be joined with Thee
Lord, in Thy cov’nant holy,
And therein ever steadfast be,
In Thy way going solely;
In time of trouble help afford,
And keep them in Thy faith and Word
Until their life is ended.

Translation © 2023 Matthew Carver.

CHURCH HYMN BOOK

O Jesus, faithful Shepherd, Lord!
We pray, thy heav'nly grace afford,
Thou art the life, the truth and way,
Thou seekest those that go astray.

2 Look on the flock presented here,
Who at thy throne of grace appear;
They are the purchase of thy blood,
And dedicated unto God.

3 Thy mercy kept them all their days,
Though they have walk'd in sinful ways:
The way wherein great numbers go,
The way that leads to endless woe.

4 Their hearts should be with grief oppress'd
And godly sorrow fill each breast;
Sure they would mourn, could they but see
How they have err'd and stray'd from thee.

5 O Let thy grace and love be felt,
And cause their stony hearts to melt;
Make deep impressions on their mind,
That makes them humble and resign'd.

6 Shew mercy, Lord, to them, we pray,
Grant light and life, in which they may,
Return to thee, their Lord again,
And faithful until death remain.

GERMAN

Herr Jesu, wahrer Seelenhirt,
du Freund der Menschenkinder,
du suchst die Schafe die verirrt,
errettst die arme Sünder;
du bist ihr Leben, Herr und Gott,
befreiest die von aller Noth,
die dich von Herzen suchen.

2 Drum siehe mit Erbarmen an
die Heerde vor dir stehen,
weil niemand sonst sie retten kann
vom Wege den sie gehen;
vom Wege, der zum Tode führt,
vom Weg worauf sie sind verirrt
als die verlorne Schafe.

3 Du hast sie ja von Kindheit auf
erhalten vom Verderben,
auch nicht in ihrem Sündenlauf
sie lassen ewig sterben;
dein Blut hat sie gar theur erkauft,
sie sind in deinem Nam getauft,
und dir ja selbst geweihet.

4 Ach, Jammer! daß sie in dem BUnd
mit dir nicht treu geblieben,
die Herzen sollten sein verwundt,
die Seelen sich betrüben,
daß sie vor dir nicht so gelebt,
daß sie dem Guten nachgestrebt,
wie du selbst hast befohlen.

5 Ach, Vater, ach, gerechter Gott!
vergib doch alle Sünden;
um Jesu Leiden, Pein und Tod
laß wieder Gnade finden;
die wirst du ja verstoßen nicht,
die suchen, Herr, dein Angesicht.
Erbarme dich der Armen.

6 Gib Jesu, daß sie ganz aufs Neu
mit dir im Bunde stehen,
und auch beständig bleiben treu
in deinem Weg zu gehen;
steh ihnen bei in aller Noth,
erhalte sie bis in den Tod,
in deinem Wort und Glauben.
‡