Gott Lob, daß er uns Menschen liebt

Here is my translation of the Holy Word hymn, “Gott Lob, daß er uns Menschen liebt” (Paul Henkel, d. 1825), in NEGB #225 with melody assignment “O Jesu Christe, wahres Licht.” The Church Hymn Book (1816ff.) provides the English rendering “A precious gift on man bestowed,” probably the work of the same author, in five stanzas of Long Meter, somewhat altered as to content.

 

TO God be praise, who loves our race,
And to us gives His Word in grace;
It is our heritage most bright,
Shows us salvation, life, and light.

2 The Bible doth to us make plain
All that had else concealèd lain;
It shows that Jesus Christ, God’s Son,
Is man’s Redeemer—He alone.

3 The Bible is of greatest worth,
God’s doctrine doth it show the earth,
It is for aye the highest Good,
Makes glad the heart and hope supplies.

4 How blest are they that this believe!
They find what none can break or thieve;
Not e’en the foe with pow’r and plot
Can overpow’r a single jot.

5 He that the Bible’s truth will hold
Hath found the weapon bright and bold,
By which he shall in battle win
Against the devil, world, and sin.

6 Preserve, O Lord, to us Thy Word
And let it ever, undeterred,
Among and in us mighty be,
Thine be the praise eternally.

Translation © 2023 Matthew Carver.

CHURCH HYMN BOOK

A Precious gift on man bestow'd,
That is to have the word of God;
The sure infallible record
That shews the counsels of the Lord.

2 That book it has to man reveal'd,
That which was to the world conceal'd.
That book reveal'd the glorious plan
By which God sav'd the race of man.

3 Of all the treasures here on earth,
This book is of the greatest worth;
From age to age it handeth down,
As much as need to man be known.

4 The Bible is a light divine!
It makes a world of darkness shine;
And ev'ry chapter, line and page,
Can cast a light on ev'ry age.

5 Bless'd are the rays this light doth give,
And bless'd are they who do receive;
This blessed light, this blessed heat,
Can make our hopes and joys complete.

GERMAN

Gott Lob, daß er uns Menschen liebt
und uns die liebe Bibel gibt,
die Bibel unser bestes Theil
zeigt uns das Leben, Licht und Heil.

2 Die Bibel macht uns offenbar,
was allen sonst verborgen war,
sie zeiget uns daß Jesus Christ
der ganzen Welt Erlöser ist.

3 Die Bibel ist von großem Werth,
sie zeigt uns, was Gott selber lehrt,
sie ist und bleibt das höchste Gut,
erfreut das Herz, gibt Trost und Muth.

4 Wohl dem, der an die Bibel glaubt,
der findet was ihm niemand raubt;
der Satan selbst mit Macht und List
dazu auch nicht vermögend ist.

5 Wer sich nur hält zur Bibel-Lehr,
der findt daran die beste Wehr,
damit er endlich überwindt
den Teufel, Welt und alle Sünd.

6 Erhalt uns, Herr, dein heilig Wort,
und laß dasselbe immerfort
bei uns und in uns kräftig sein,
zu deiner Ehr und Preis allein.
‡