Wir glauben all an wahren Gott

Here is my tranlsation of the hymn, “Wir glauben all an wahren Gott” (C. Spangenberg, 1586), from the author’s Der gantze Psalter Davids, a paraphrase of Psalm 18:1–30, which Spangenberg titles: “A Confession of the Faith from the XVIII. Psalm.” In square brackets I enclose my own attempt at the remainder of the Psalm in the same style.

Mel.: Wir glauben all an einen Gott (Luther).
 

WE all____ be_lieve in one true God:
Heav’n and earth are His creation.
He, as our Strength and firm Abode,
Help us in all tribula_tion.
Let us show Him love unfeigning,
All our trust upon Him setting,
Who with us shall be remaining,
Lest we be our faith regretting:
He is_ our_ Shield_ and Rock_ as-sured,_____
As shown us in His precious Word.

2 We will____ call_ on our God and Lord
That He would us all deliver
From all our foes relief afford,
And from evil help us ev_er.
For death had us captive taken,
And hell’s anguish did surround us,
Yet we now to life awaken,
Freed from all the snares that bound us,
For God_ our_ Lord_ in time_ of_ need_____
Hath heard our pray’r and helped indeed.

3 We cry____ to_ God in our distress
And our crying He attendeth,
And, seeing our great wretchedness,
From heaven succor send-eth.
From the many waters draws us,
From all foes He doth deliver,
Who with strength and hate oppose us,
And would blot us out forever.
The Lord_ shall_ be_ our hope_ and_ stay._____
Thus they can cause us no dismay.

4 We shall____ the_ Lord’s ways keep henceforth,
And all His commandments holy,
His name esteem in highest worth,
So shall He rule us sole_ly,
And on us bestow His blessing,
Richly too His grace be granting,
That we, prosp’rously progress_ing,
Shall in no good thing be wanting.
For who_ his_ trust_ in God_ hath_ set,_____
Shall not his confidence regret. Amen.

[5 We hail____ the_ Lord, true God alone,
The Rock all strength bestowing,
Who makes us right and swift to run,
To the heights of heaven go_ing;
He our hands to war instructeth,
By our arms steel bows He breaketh,
He salvation’s shield us giveth,
Holds us up, nor us forsaketh.
We by His grace our magnified,____
That we may stand, not flee or slide.

6 We o____ver_come our foes in God,
So that soon they are overtaken,
We turn not till they fill the sod,
We wound them, and they never wa_ken.
For He gives us strength for battle,
Subdueth those against us rising,
Breaks the necks of those who prattle,
Much His mercy free despising.
Too late_ they_ cry_ to Him_ in_ vain;____
He casts them to eternal pain.

7 We are____ by_ God freed from all strife,
Set as heads o’er heathen nations;
He brings the lost again to life
And His holy obliga_tions,
Making them no longer strangers,
But His friends and faithful ever,
Saves from darkness and its dangers,
Chains of former ways doth sever,
Thus fear_ing_ God,_ sin’s nar_row_ place____
They leave behind for halls of grace.

8 We praise____ the Lord, who truly lives,
God our Rock, forever blessed;
Exalt Him who salvation gives
To His saints that were distres_sèd,
Under us He all subdueth,
From the foe doth us deliver,
And the fiend that us pursueth.
Therefore thanks be His forever,
And praise_ through_ all_ the mor_tal_ race____
For His deliv’rance, love, and grace!

9 We glo____rify the Lord our God,
Praise the One in substance ever,
The Three in person duly laud,
In whom change occurreth nev_er:
God the everlasting Father,
God the Son, our only Savior,
God the Spirit, with each other
One in glory, might, and favor,
Co-e_qual,_ co_-eter_nal_ Lord____
Both now and ever be adored!]

Translation © 2026 Matthew Carver.

GERMAN

Wir glauben all an wahren Gott,
Schöpfer Himmels und der Erden,
der bei uns steht in aller Noth,
unser Stärk und Fels will werden,
drum wir ihn solln herzlich lieben
und auf ihn gänzlich vertrauen,
denn er will bei uns auch bleiben,
solchs Glaubens soll uns nicht rauen,
er ist unser Schild, Schutz und Hort,
wie uns anzeigt sein liebes Wort.

2 Wir wollen den Herrn ruffen an,
daß er uns wölle erlösen,
von unsern Feinden, uns beistahn,
und bewahrn vor allem Bösen.
Denn uns Todes Band umfangen,
und der Höllen Angst umgeben,
doch sind wir dem all entgangen,
und erhalten bei dem Leben,
denn unser Herr Gott in der Noth
unser Gebet erhöret hat.

3 Wir rufen in unser Angst zu Gott,
so erhört er unser Stimme,
und siehet an die große Noth,
sein Hülf uns shicket vom Himmel,
er zeucht uns aus großen Wassern,
rettet auch von allen Feinden,
von den gewaltigen Hassern,
die uns zu dämpfen vermeinten,
der Herr wird unser Zuversicht,
drum können sie uns schaden nicht.

4 Wir sollen hinfort die Weg des Herrn
und sein heilig Gebot halten,
sein Namen auch haben in Ehrn,
so wird er bei uns auch walten,
und sein Segen uns verleihen,
reichlich auch sein Gnad mittheilen,
daß uns alles wohl gedeihe,
und kein Gutes müße feilen,
denn wer fest auf Gott thut vertraun,
den mag sein Hoffnung nicht geraun. Amen.