Die Himmel, Herr, preisen sehr

Here is my translation of the psalm paraphrase, “Die Himmel, Herr, preisen sehr” (Cornelius Becker, d. 1604), based on Psalm XIX, Caeli enarrant, with melody assignment “Nun komm der Heiden Heiland,” fitting it for use in Advent, especially with the two stanzas (4 and 5) borrowed from Luther’s hymn, the source of the melody. For stanza 4 I suggest my own translation hewing closer to the psalm, or Massie’s rendering as found in ELHB 1893, but for stanza 5, simply Massie’s text unaltered (later revisions seen, e.g., in TLH 1941, forsake the German sense).

Vierling (Biblia 718) writes on Psalm XIX, “It is a prophecy of the Gospel telling how it would go out into all the world as far as the heavens, and be purveyed day and night, and not only in the Jewish tongue, but in all tongues (v. 4). Just as the sun (which it introduces as a simile, v. 5) shines in every place and gives warmth all around, so shall the new law of the Gospel shine and enlighten, comfort, purify, etc., everything in all manner of teaching. And with this it takes away the old law, which was not so pure, bright, pleasant, and incomparable, etc. The Psalm pertains to the Third Commandment, for it proclaims the true sabbath in which God’s Word is to be taught and believed.”

 

LOUDLY, Lord, the heav’ns acclaim
Thy celestial pow’r and name;
And the firmament the grace
Of Thy working doth express.

2 Day to day doth speak the word,
Through the night the news is heard,
To all tongues the tidings known,
Through all lands their line is gone.

3 Fair the sun ascends the earth,
Bringing all men joy and mirth:
Lo, the Father’s only Son
Cometh forth out of His throne!

*4 From the royal, spotless room [Now He leaves His royal room
Of His chamber comes the Groom, [In the holy virgin's womb,
God and Man with joy and grace [God by nature, man by birth,
As a Champion runs His race. [He now runs His course on earth.

*5 From the Father forth He came,
And returned unto the same,
Down to hell He went alone,
And again to God’s high throne.

6 Lord, Thy Word’s a flawless whole,
Comforting the troubled soul;
Sure Thy testimony sings,
Making wise all simple things.

7 Right, O Lord, Thy statutes are,
Gladd’ning hearts both near and far,
Lighting eyes with blessedness!
Fear of God shall never cease.

8 True Thy judgments are, and right,
Blameless, righteous, full of light,
More to be desired than gold,
Sweetness more than honey hold.

9 Well Thy Word instructs us, Lord,
And repays a great reward,
If as faithful servants we
In Thy fear walk faithfully.

10 Since no man, Lord, can begin
To account for all his sin,
We beseech Thee: Grace bestow,
Cover what we do not know. [or, Cleanse the faults…]

11 From all pride Thy servant keep,
Lest I to my peril leap,
Living life against Thy Word,
Suff’ring sin to be my lord.

12 Then my heart alone by grace
Shall of stain show not a trace;
By Thy grace I safe shall be,
Without all iniquity.

13 What my mouth, Lord, Thee implores,
And the sigh my heart outpours
Grant according to Thy Word,
Great Redeemer, mighty Lord!

Translation © 2024 Matthew Carver.
But sts. [4] and 5, Richard Massie (d. 1887), from ELHB 1893.

GERMAN

Die Himmel, Herr, preiſen sehr
Dein göttliche Macht und Ehr,
Auch die Feſte rühmt die Gnad,
Die dein Hand gewircket hat

2  Ein Tag ſagts dem andern an,
Durch die Nacht wirds kundgethan,
Allen Sprachen wirds bekant,
Ihr Schnur geht durch alle Land.

3  Schön geht auff die liebe Sonn,
Bringet der Welt Freud und Wonn,
Gottes eingeborner Sohn,
Kommt herfür aus ſeinem Thron.

4  Er geht aus der Kammer ſein,
Dem königlichen Saal ſo rein,
Gott von Art und Menſch ein Held,
Sein Weg er zu lauffen eilt.

5  Sein Lauff kömpt vom Vater her,
Und geht wieder zum Vater,
Fehrt hinunter zu der Hell,
Und wieder zu Gottes Stuel.

6  Dein Wort HErr ist ohne Fehl,
Giebt Freud der betrübten Seel,
Deine Zeugnis fest und gwiß,
Machen klug, was alber ist.
    
7  Richtig HErr sind dein Gebot,
Erfreuen das Hertz in Noth,
Bringen Liecht und Seeligkeit,
Gottsfurcht bleibt in Ewigkeit.

8  Wahrhaftig sind deine Recht,
Ohne Tadel recht und schlecht,
Köstlicher denn Gold sie seyn,
Und süsser als Honigseim.

9  HErr, dein Wort uns reichlich lehrt,
Und mit großem Lohn verehrt,
So wir nun als treue Knecht,
In deiner Furcht bleiben recht.

10  Wenn niemand HErr mercken kan,
Wie offt er unrecht gethan,
Bitten wir demütiglich,
Deck zu, was wir wissen nicht.

11  Deinen Knecht für Stoltz bewar,
Daß ich nicht kom in Gefahr,
Deim Wort nicht zuwider leb,
Noch der Sünden mich ergeb.

12  So wird durch dein Güt allein
Mein Hertz stets ohn Wandel seyn,
und sicher durch deine Gnad,
Stehn ohn Sünd und Missethat.

13  Was von dir HErr bitt der Mund,
Geht mir recht von Hertzen Grund,
Gieb mirs ja nach deinem Wort,
Mein Erlöser und mein Hort.