Zu Cana in Galiläa

Here is my translation of “In Cana in Galiläa” (N. Herman, 1561), from the author’s Sonntags-Evangelia for the Second Sunday after Epiphany, or First Sunday after the Octave of Epiphany, in the old numeration. Concerning precedence in 2026, it has been shown that the Confession of Peter on Jan. 18 is unknown generally, and is clearly absent from old Lutheran hymn collections. —
    The present translation was commissioned by First Lutheran Church in Boston, MA, in 2023 (thus long before my series of church-year translations began) under the auspices of the Cantor, Dr. Jonathan Wessler, to be sung to the chorale setting given by Gesius (1605), which is an elaborate 4-voice setting of the

Mel.: Wohl dem, der in Gottes Furcht steht.

IN Cana, town of Galilee,
A wedding Mary went to see;
And Jesus, bidden to the same,
With His disciples thither came.

2 But when at last the wine was gone,
Said Mary to the Lord, her Son,
Ah, Jesus, dearest Son of mine,
These people help! There is no wine.

3 God’s Son said, “Woman” tato her plea,
“What have I now to do with thee?
Am I to cure it by My pow’r?
Thou know’st, not yet is come Mine hour.”

4 She calmly heard the stern reply
And said unto the servants nigh,
“Whatever He shall bid you, do,
I trust His counsel ever true.”

5 Then Jesus would His glory show,
And let us men His mercy know.
Six water jars He therefore willed
With water promptly to be filled.

6 That water by His Word of might
Was made a liquor of delight;
He told the servants, “Pour in haste
The master of the feast a taste.”

7 The master, tasting of the wine,
But knowing not the work divine,
That it had water been before,
Amazed, the bridegroom did implore:

8 “O bridegroom, answer, what is this?
The custom of all men it is
To give the better wine at first,
And when it fails, to give the worst!”

9 When by the servants ’twas explained,
No longer silent it remained,
But through the land from first to last
The word of Jesus’ wonder passed.

10 In Cana, town of Galilee,
Was Jesus’ godly majesty
Shown by this first of signs performed,
And His disciples’ faith confirmed.

11 Here, bride and groom, who have a mind
To build a house, your comfort find:
Believe that Christ will you attend
And waters all to wine amend.

12 For He th’ estate of marriage planned,
And forged in Eden by His hand.
And will from crosses that annoy
Bring man and wife to endless joy.

13* Lord Christ, Thy holy ord’nance save,
Lest Satan e’er that bond deprave; {or, And keep from Satan’s poison grave;
Thy kingdom thus be multiplied,
Thy name be praised and glorified.

In the original, this stanza is labeled “Prayer.”

GERMAN

Als es nun da am Wein gebrach,
Maria zu dem HErren sprach:
Ach Jesu, lieber Sohne mein,
Hilff den Leuten, es mangelt Wein.

2 Drauff antwort JEsus Go es Sohn:
Weib, was hab ich mit dir zu thon?
Soll ich in schaffen was gebricht?
Ist doch mein stund noch kommen nicht.

3 Der harten wort erschrickt sie nicht,
Und zu den Hochzeitdienern spricht:
Was er euch heissen wird, das thut,
Ich hoffe es wird noch alles gut.

4 JEsus der wolt sein Herrligkeit
Lassen scheinen und Gütigkeit;
Sechs steinern Krüg mit Wasser voll
Zu fülln den Dienern er befohl.

5 Das Wasser durch seins Wortes krafft
War ein lieblicher Rebensaft;
Zun Dienern sagt Er: Nu schenckt ein
Und bringt den Speißmeister den Wein.

6 Da der Speißmeister den Wein kost,
Der gar nichts umb den Handel wußt,
Das er vor Wasser gwesen war,
Rufft er den Breutgam zu im dar.

7 Sprach: Breutgam was hastu gethan?
Erstlich zu geben jederman
Pfleget den allerbesten Wein;
Den Gringen, wenn sie truncken sein.

8 Da er von Dienern wurd bericht
Bleib es lenger verschwiegen nicht,
Sondern es wird im ganzen Land
Das Zeichen Jesu weit bekandt.

9 Das war die erste Wunderthat
Dadurch die Gö lich Majestat
JEsu zu Cana wurd vermerckt
Und seiner Jünger glaub gesterckt.

10 Ihr Eheleut nebt ein trost daraus,
die jr euch se en wolt zu Hauß,
Und gleubt, Christus werd bey euch sein
Ewr Wasser auch machen zu Wein.

11 Denn er hat selbst den Ehelichen Stand
Im Paradiß mit eigner hand
Gestifft, und wil aus Creutz und Leid
Eheleut bringen zur ewign Frewd.

*12 O HErr CHrist, erhalt dein Gestifft
Behüt den Standt für Satans gifft,
Das dein Reich darinn werd gemehrt
Dein Nam gepreist, globt und geehrt.