Mitten wir im Leben sind

For my next “new” hymn translation, I re-translated “Mitten wir im Leben sind” (M. Luther, 1524), of which stanza 3 was quoted in Lochner’s Passion-book for Devotion 34 (“Judas Comes to a Horrible End”). The reason for this re-translation is that the composite translate in TLH, and hence its alteration in LSB, is copryight © 1941 Concordia Publishing House. To avoid extraneous expense I created a new rendering, using the opportunity to bring out some other aspects of the German original not in that (nor to some extent in L. W. Bacon’s). For instance, in this version I preserve the original rhyme-scheme, which did not rhyme lines 1 and 3, but did rhyme (such as it may be) lines 11 and 13.

Mel.: Mitten wir im Leben sind
 

IN the midst of life we men
  Are by death surrounded;
From whom shall we seek for help
  And find grace unbounded?
From Thee, O Lord, Thee only!
We rue our great iniquity,
Which, O Lord, hath angered Thee.
O holy Lord, our God,
O holy, mighty God,
O holy and merciful Savior,
  Forever true God.
In death’s bitter torment
  Keep us, that we waver not!
Kyrieleison!

2 In the midst of death, hell’s jaws
  Fight us and accuse us.
Who from such a dire distress
  Will release and loose us?
Thou dost, O Lord, Thou only!
Thy heart of mercy mourns to see
Our lament and agony.
O holy Lord, our God,
O holy, mighty God,
O holy and merciful Savior,
  Forever true God.
Let us not gaze hopeless
  At hell’s flames so deep and broad,
Kyrieleison!

3 In the midst of hellish fear,
  Chased by sins impelling,
Whither shall we flee away,
  And be safely dwelling?
To Thee, Lord Christ, Thee only!
  For Thy most precious blood, once shed,
  Satisfaction for us made.
O holy Lord, our God,
O holy, mighty God,
O holy and merciful Savior:
  Forever true God!
Let us not abandon
  This, faith’s balm and sure abode.
Kyrieleison!

Translation © 2025 Matthew Carver.

GERMAN

Mitten wir im Leben sein,
mit dem Tod umfangen,
wen suchen wir der Hilf thu,
daß wir Gnad erlangen?
Das bist du, Herr, alleine.
Uns reuet unser Missethat,
die dich, Herr, erzürnet hat.
Heiliger Herre Gott,
Heiliger starker Gott,
Heiliger barmherziger Heiland,
du ewiger Gott,
laß uns nit versinken
in des bittern Todes Noth,
Kyrieleison.

2 Mitten in dem Tod anficht
uns der Hellen Rachen,
wer will uns aus solcher Noth
frei und ledig machen?
Das thust du, Herr, alleine.
Es jammert dein Barmherzigkeit
unser Klag und großes Leid.
Heiliger Herre Gott,
Heiliger starker Gott,
Heiliger barmherziger Heiland,
du ewiger Gott,
laß uns nit verzagen
vor der tiefen Hellen Glut,
Kyrieleison.

3 Mitten in der Hellen Angst
unser Sünd uns treiben;
wo solln wir dann fliehen hin,
da wir mögen bleiben?
Zu dir, Herr Christ, alleine,
vergossen hast dein theures Blut,
das gnug für die Sünde thut.
Heiliger Herre Gott,
Heiliger starker Gott,
Heiliger barmherziger Heiland,
du ewiger Gott,
laß uns nit empfallen
von des rechten Glaubens Trost,
Kyrieleison.