Here is my supplemental translation for the Silvester / New Year’s Eve hymn, “Durch Trauern und durch Plagen” (Gottfried Wilhelm Sacer, d. 1699), in GGELB #47 with melody assignment “Herzlich thut mich verlangen” and omitting stanzas 3–7; originating, according to Rambach, from the Stralsund Gsb 1665; also in the author’s collected Lieder (Gotha, 1714). Two partial translations exist in English by Dr. [F. W.] Gotch and Dr. J. E. Rankin, each omitting a different stanza. Since their styles are somewhat different, I provide a supplement for each, though one might simply prefer to patch Rankin’s from Gotch’s or vice versa. However, I give my supplemented form of Gotch’s text first, since it was published 40 years earlier than Rankin’s.
Gotch’s version supplemented.
Through many changeful morrows
Of anxious pilgrim life,
Through many cares and sorrows,
Through many a bitter strife,
Still onward am I pressing,
The year is passed away,
Thanks, Lord, to Thee, and blessing!
In all Thou wast my Stay.
2 Thou who hast well provided,—
My path I leave to Thee;
My Savior, who hast guided,
My portion still shalt be;
To Thee I would surrender
My will, no longer mine;
Be Thou my life’s Defender,
My heart be only Thine.
3 My God, my Love, Thy pleasure
My pleasure too shall be.
Keep me by every measure
From contradicting Thee.
My will to Thine retireth,
Yea, ’tis no more my own,
Since all my life desireth
To live as Thine alone.
4 In all things Thou wilt bless me,
Whilst to Thy will I bow;
Does penury distress me?
My highest Good art Thou.
Is persecution vexing?
Still, Lord, Thou shieldest me.
Is this world’s scorn perplexing?
I yield, and look to Thee.
5 Do I deserted languish?
Lord God, Thou’rt ever near.
My spirit filled with anguish?
Thou art my Comforter.
Does fierce disease befall me?
Submissive I will be.
Dost Thou from this world call me?
My life belongs to Thee.
6 Is heav’n my habitation?
There I in glory shine;
The final condemnation—
Praise God! that is not mine;
True, if my soul were driven
To darkness, Thou wert just,
But Thou hast all forgiven,
Through Jesus Christ, my trust.
7 Whate’er this year may send me,
O! keep me firm and true,
Each day Thy grace attend me,
And every morning new:
Old sins and follies leaving,
New strength by Thee supplied,
New blessings still receiving,
I take Thee for my guide.
Translation sts. 1–2, 4–7, Gotch, Baptist Magazine (1857).
Translation st. 3 © 2024 Matthew Carver.
Rankin’s Version, alt., and supplemented:
1 Through troubles and through sorrows,
Through want and grief and pain,
Through hope for brighter morrows,
And sunshine after rain,
O Lord, Thy hand has brought me
To round the closing year
The praise Thy love has taught me
My heart would render here.
2 Whoe’er my life has shielded,
In Thee has been my health;
What joy my life has yielded,
Still Thou hast been its wealth;
Thy grace has still upheld me,
Has richly me consoled,
When wayward, has compelled me
And brought me to the fold.
3 Thy love Thou hast revealed me,
And love, Lord, is Thy name;
Whatever’s been concealed me
Has shown that love the same.
My will I Thee surrender,
I need none of my own,
Since Thou art my defender,
And I walk not alone.
4 My way to Thine adjusting,
I wish them to be one,
And in Thy guidance trusting,
All evil shall I shun!
Do Thou, O Lord, protect me,
Though rough the future be;
Still counsel and direct me—
I’ll walk obediently.
5 Must I live on forsaken,
My Lord, Thy will be done;
Life’s blessings from me taken
And clouded in life’s sun.
Must I in sickness languish,
Submissive will I lie;
Must I go hence in anguish,
I shall not fear to die.
6 Shall I attain to heaven?
This, God, my Light, I know!
Shall hell my soul be given?
Thou wouldst not have it so!
I merit, sin-defilèd,
The flames of hell’s abode,
Yet I am reconcilèd
To Thee by Jesus’ blood.
7 Today the year is closing;
Safe hast Thou brought me through;
New grace from Thee disposing
My heart toward Thee anew;
Old sins by Thee forgiven;
Give Thou me better days;
I journey on to heaven
Cheered by Thy promises.
Translation sts. 1–5, 7, Rankin, German-English Lyrics (1897, 1898), alt.
Translation st. 6 © 2024 Matthew Carver.
RANKIN
1 Through trouble and through sorrow,
Through want and grief and gain,
Through hope for brigther morrow,
And sunshine after rain,
O Lord, Thy hand has brought me
To round the closing year
the praise Thy love has taught me
My heart would render here.
2 Who e’er my life has shielded,
In Thee has been my health;
What joy my life has yielded,
Still Thou hast been its wealth;
Thy grace has still upheld me,
Has richly me consoled,
When wayward, has compelled me
And brought me to the fold.
3 Thy love Thou hast revealed me,
And love, Lord, is Thy name;
Whatever’s been concealed me
Has shown that love the same.
My will I Thee surrender,
I need none of my own,
Since Thou art my defender,
And I walk not alone.
4 My way to Thine adjusting,
Thy way and mine are one,
And in Thy guidance trusting,
All evil shall I shun!
Do Thou, O Lord, protect me,
Though rough the future be;
Still counsel and direct me—
I’ll walk obediently.
5 Must I live on forsaken,
My Lord, Thy will be done;
Life’s blessings from me taken
And clouded in life’s sun.
Must I in sickness languish,
Submissive will I lie;
Must I go hence in anguish,
I shall not fear to die.
6 N/A
7 Today the year is closing;
Safe hast Thou brought me through;
New grace from Thee disposing
My heart toward Thee anew;
Old sins by Thee forgiven;
Give Thou me better days;
I journey on to heaven
Cheered by Thy promises.
GOTCH (1857, 1880)
1 Through many changeful morrows
Of anxious pilgrim life,
Through many cares and sorrows,
Through many a bitter strife,
Still onward am I pressing,
The year is passed away,
Thanks, Lord, to Thee, and blessing!
Thou wast in all my Stay. [In all Thou wast…]
2 Thou who hast well provided,—
My path I leave to Thee;
Thou, Savior, who hast guided, [My Savior, Thou…]
My portion still shalt be;
To Thee I would surrender
My will, no longer mine;
Be Thou my life’s Defender,
My heart be only Thine.
3 N/A
4 In all things Thou wilt bless me,
Whilst to Thy will I bow;
Does penury distress me?
My highest Good art Thou.
Is persecution vexing?
Still, Lord, Thou shieldest me.
Is this world’s scorn perplexing?
I yield, and look to Thee.
5 Do I deserted languish?
Lord God, Thou’rt ever near.
My spirit filled with anguish?
Thou art my Comforter.
Does fierce disease befall me?
Submissive I will be.
Dost Thou from this world call me?
My life belongs to Thee.
6 Is heav’n my habitation?
There I in glory shine;
The final condemnation—
Praise God! that is not mine;
True, if my soul were driven
To darkness, Thou wert just,
But Thou hast all forgiven,
Through Jesus Christ, my trust.
7 Whate’er this year may send me,
O! keep me firm and true,
Each day Thy grace attend me,
And every morning new:
Old sins and follies leaving,
New strength by Thee supplied,
New blessings still receiving,
I take Thee for my guide.
GERMAN
Durch Trauern und durch Plagen,
durch Noth, durch Angst und Pein,
durch Hoffnung und durch Klagen,
durch Sorgen, groß und klein,
bin ich, Gott Lob, gedrungen;
dies Jahr ist hingelegt
dir, Gott, sei Lob gesungen,
mein Herze wird erregt.
2. Der du mich hast erbauet,
in dir besteht mein Heil;
dir ist mein Glück vertrauet,
du bist und bleibst mein Theil.
Du hast mich wohl erhalten,
du bist mein fester Trost:
dich laß ich ferner walten,
wenn mich die Not anstoßt.
3. Mein Gott, o meine Liebe,
was du willst, will auch ich;
gib, daß ich nichts verübe,
was irgend wider dich.
Dir ist mein Will ergeben,
ja, er ist nicht mehr mein,
dieweil mein ganzes Leben
dein eigen wünscht zu sein.
4. Nach dir soll ich mich schicken,
und, Herr, ich wills auch thun.
Soll mich die Armuth drücken?
ich will dabei beruhn.
Soll mich Verfolgung plagen?
ja, Herr, befehle mir.
Soll ich Verachtung tragen?
ach, ich gehorch auch hier.
5. Soll ich verlassen sitzen?
mein Gott, dein Wille gilt.
Soll ich in Ängsten schwitzen?
mein Heiland, wie du willst.
Soll ich denn Krankheit leiden?
ich will gehorsam sein.
Soll ich von dannen scheiden?
Herr, dein Will ist auch mein.
6. Soll ich zum Himmel dringen?
gar gern, o Gott, mein Licht.
Soll mich die Höll verschlingen?
Ach, dieses willt du nicht.
Ich habe zwar verdienet
die rothe Höllenglut,
du aber bist versühnet
durch deines Sohnes Blut.
7. Heut ist das Jahr beschlossen,
Herr, deine Gnad sei heut
auf mich neu gegossen;
mein Herz werd auch erneut.
Leg ich die alten Sünden,
so werd ich, Gott, bei dir
auch neuen Segen finden;
dein Wort verspricht es mir.
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