Jesus, Arzt für Leib und Seel

 Here is my translation of the hymn, “Jesus, Arzt für Leib und Seel” (Paul Henkel, d. 1825), in NEGB #132 with title “For the sick and dying” with melody assignment “Meinen Jesum laß ich nicht.” The Church Hymn Book (1816ff.) adapts it “Jesus, the Patient’s Surest Friend” in 7 stanzas of Long Meter.

 

SOUL and body He can heal—
Jesus Christ, the great Physician;
Therefore at His kind appeal
Simply send Him thy petition.
If He send some grief or ill,
He doth bear it with us still.

2 He doth know the season due,
When to end all lamentation;
Where it brings repentance true,
Soon He sendeth consolation;
There is seen and known indeed
What His promise hath decreed.

3 We as sons are sought by God
When with sickness He doth beckon;
If we heed the Father’s rod,
Then what comfort shall awaken!
Punishment and chastening
Shall our soul’s advantage bring.

4 Though the body stricken be,
And must many a sorrow suffer
And we act impatiently,
Jesus will preserve them ever
Who on Him in faith rely,
Nor in death will let them die.

5 Come then, soul, be of good cheer,
Even all these troubles bearing;
For thy good these now appear,
Therefore do not be despairing.
Though assailed with much distress,
Thou art bound for blessedness.

Translation © 2023 Matthew Carver.

CHURCH HYMN BOOK

Jesus, the patient's surest friend,
Will ever to his case attend;
He was in all, like man distress'd,
And bore the curse to make us bless'd.

2 In all afflictions we must bear,
We are the objects of his care;
Tho' we are made to feel the rod,
It is to draw us nearer God.

3 Sure we have reason to believe,
He knows the time when to relieve;
When to remove distress and pain,
And to restore our health again.

4 He guards us with his watchful eye,
While we do live, and when we die;
His word and promises are sure,
Nor can thy fail for ever more.

5 If thus the Sons of God we be,
We must not seek from him to flee,
When his afflicting hand we feel,
We must submit unto his will.

6 What tho' we suffer for a while,
Distress, and grief, and pain, and toil:
Since ev'ry rod and ev'ry smart,
Is to remorse the hard'ned heart.

7 Then ye distress'd be not afraid,
Nor let your minds be so dismay'd;
Christ your physician makes you whole,
Can cure the body and the soul.

 

GERMAN

Jesus, Arzt für Leib und Seel,
kann von aller Krankheit retten,
darum sollt auf sein Befehl
jeder Kranker zu ihm beten.
Hat er Krankheit aufgelegt,
ist ers, der sie mit uns trägt.

2 Er selbst weiß die beste Zeit
wann er soll die Klage wenden,
wenn die Straf zur Buß bereit,
dem wird er bald Hilfe senden;
der erfahret in der That,
was er ihm verheißen hat.

3 Gott uns, seine Kinder, sucht,
wanner uns mit Krankheit schläget;
folgen wir der Straf und Zucht,
so ist Trost uns beigeleget.
Jede Strafe, Zucht und Ruth
ist für unsre Seele gut.

4 Ob der Leib wird hingelegt,
und muß manchen Schmerz erfahren,
wird oft Ungeduld erregt,
doch wird Jesus den bewahren:
der zu ihm hat Zuversicht,
daß er im Tod stirbet nicht [daß im Tod er…]

5 Hab, o Seele, guten Muth,
auch in allen deinen Plagen;
alles kommt ja dir zu gut,
darum soll[s]t du nicht verzagen.
Ob dich manche Noth anficht,
so verdirbst du dennoch nicht.
‡