Befiehl nur deine Wege

Here is my translation of the hymn “Befiehl nur deine Wege” (J. Olearius, 1671), from the author’s Singekunst, for Trinity XVIII, as an encouragement from the Gospel reading “and the words of Psalm 37, Commit thy ways unto the Lord”; to the hymn there is subjoined the note: “P. Gerhardt’s hymn is found in its entirety in article 23.” That hymn, of course, is the initially similar “Befiehl du deine Wege / und was dem Herze kränkt.” While the heterometrical melody “Hilf Gott, daß mirs gelinge,” is indicated evidently by oversight, the melody “Herzlich thut mich verlangen” is generally found assigned in other hymnals.

Mel.: Herzlich thut mich verlangen.
 

THY ways commit thou only
To God, who morn and eve
Sees all thy pathways lonely
And doth thy need relieve;
He reigneth, yea, and liveth
At God’s right hand above,
Who pasture to us giveth
In tender father-love.

2 His foes have lost already
And as His footstool lie,
Though still the serpent deadly
Annoys, their end is nigh
.The head is crushed and broken.
Now David’s Lord and Son
Hears e’en our pray’rs unspoken
And helps from heaven’s throne.

3 Whatever may betide us,
He hath done well and right.
Both round us and beside us
He keeps us day and night.
Trust Him, who all well maketh
From Him true help receive;
He in no cause forsaketh,
He guards thee morn and eve.

4 Praise to the conqu’ring Savior,
Who helps from all distress,
So that God’s children never
Need fear men’s wickedness
Nor death, for we in heaven
By Him will graciously
Be life and glory given
For all eternity.

Translation © 2025 Matthew Carver.

GERMAN

Befiehl nur deine Wege
dem Herrn, der früh und spat
sieht alle deine Stege
und schafft dir Hülf und Rath,
er sitzt ja und regieret
zur Rechten ewiglich,
der seine Schäflein führet
und weidet väterlich.

2 Die Feind sind schon erleget,
daß sie Fußschemel sein,
ob sich die Schlang noch reget,
muß sie doch büssen ein,
der Kopf ist schon zutreten,
des Davids Herr und Sohn
erhört uns, wenn wir beten
und hilft vom Himmelsthron.

3 Er hats zu allen Zeiten
recht gut und wohlgemacht,
er ist auf allen Seiten
mit uns bei tag und Nacht,
trau ihm, er wirds wohl machen,
bei ihm ist Rath und That,
er hilft in allen Sachen,
er schützt dich früh und spat.

4 Lob sei dem Überwinder,
der hilft aus allen Noth,
daß wir als Gotteskinder
nicht fürchten Noth und Tod,
weil er uns dort das Leben
und alles Herrlichkeit
aus lauter Gnad will geben
in alle Ewigkeit.

O Anfang ohne Ende

 Here is my translation of the hymn for Sunday after Christmas, “O Anfang ohne Ende” (Benjamin Schmolck, d. 1737, alt., ? Paul Henkel, d. 1825), in NEGB #20. Of the original Schmolck hymn “O Anfang sonder Ende,” which I translated already, stanzas 1–3, 5–6 are here reworked by reversal of lines 5 and 6, metrically, at least, and numerous textual changes in style and substance. Finally, a 6th stanza of unknown origin is added, evidently by the reworker, which again I take to be Paul Henkel. The appointed melody is “Befiehl du deine Wege.” Below I also include the version provided in the Church Hymn Book (1816) which bears only a slight resemblance to our hymn, though touching on some similar themes. Clearly it was developed from the German text and entirely recast for Long Meter.

 

BEGINNING with no ending!
Thou Lord of times and days!
Our hands to Thee extending
With joy Thy name we praise,
Life to us Thou hast given
Till one more year was o’er:
Be glorified in heaven
Now and forevermore!

2 The Church is wondrous truly:
Thy Word and Sacrament
Refresh our spirit wholly,
With Light and Right unblent.
Christ, to His Passion driven,
In shameful form was seen,
But we are heirs of heaven
Because He rose again.

3 The land with blessing teemeth,
And with Thy bounty shines,
Thus everywhere it seemeth
Is comfort for our minds.
Are we oft pierced with sadness
And grief, as by a sword,
We see a brighter morrow,
Redeemed by Christ our Lord.

4 (5) O grace unhoped, undoubted!
Though we deserve but wrath,
Thou hast all danger routed
At Christ’s atoning death;
Will we with pray’r and fasting
Approach the Mercy-seat
In faith unfeigned, unresting,
The ending shall be sweet.

5 (6) Ah, should we not be voicing
Our thanks in this bright hour,
With all our heart rejoicing,
And praise Thy wondrous pow’r?
As in that sacred story
Good Anna held Thee dear
And praised God for His glory
With lips and godly fear?

6 Let us in peace be going
As Simeon of old,
When years are past, well knowing
The gracious prize we’ll hold.
Then will we see impending
Surcease of every woe,
When to Thy joy unending
Thou, Lord, shalt bid us go.

Translation © 2022–2023 Matthew Carver.

CHURCH HYMN BOOK

O Thou from all eternity!
Who didst descend to come and be
An infant brought before the Lord,
As was directed in his word.

2 Thy presence caused Thy saints rejoice:
They with thanksgiving raised their voice,
To see the Lord whom they had sought
Into the Holy Temple brought.

3 That which is to the world unknown
To every seeking soul is shown;
They who do humbly seek their God,
Shall have such grace on them bestowed.

4 God's counsels they are truly great,
Yet such as humbly on him wait;
To such the Lord will still unfold,
As unto Simeon of old.

5 Their Lord and Savior they shall find:
They see him with the eye of mind;
Their hearts with faith and hopes are filled,
Thus is their Lord to them revealed.

6 But sorrow mingle with their joys,
And otherwise their mind employs:
As was the Virgin Mary's case,
Tho' she embraced the king of peace.

7 Her darling son, was Christ indeed,
Who came to crush the Serpent's head,
But O, the tooth that pierced his heel!
What sorrows it caused her to feel.

8 As Simeon there had prophesied,
Her dearest son was crucified;
The sight thereof it was a dart,
A sword that pierced her tender heart.

9 Thus we rejoice and mourn again,
Our joys and hopes are oft-times slain;
But still our faith and hope increase,
Till we depart this world in peace.

GERMAN

O Anfang ohne Ende,
du großes A und O!
wir recken dir die Hände,
und sind von Herzen froh:
du hst uns lassen leben,
und enden noch ein Jahr.
Dir sei die Ehre geben,
jetzund und immerdar.

2 Die Kirche ist voll Wunder,
dein Wort und Sakrament
macht unsre Seele munter,
daß Licht und Recht noch brennt
ward Jesus durch sein Sterben,
verachtet angesehn,
doch sind wir Himmels-Erben,
weil er thät auferstehn.

3 Das Land ist voller Segen,
erleucht mit deiner Guth,
drum findt man allerwegen,
den Trost für das Gemüth.
Und thut uns oft durchdringen,
Trübsal und Seelenpein;
so muß uns doch gelingen,
weil wir erlöset sein.

4 O welche große Gnade!
ob wir gleich Zorn verdient,
doch hast du allen Schaden
durch Christum ausgesöhnt.
Wann wir mit Fasten, Beten,
im Glauben Tag und Nacht,
zum Gnadenthron hintreten,
so wird es gut gemacht.

5 Ach sollten wir jetzunder
nicht höchstens dankbar sein,
und über deine Wunder,
uns recht von Herzen freun,
wie dort in jener Stunde
die fromme Hannah that,
lobt Gott von Herzensgrunde,
und preiste seinen Rath.

6 Laß uns in Frieden fahren,
wie dort den Simeon,
nach überlbten Jahren,
empfahn den Gnadenlohn;
so werden wir dann sehen
ein End von allem Leid,
wann du uns heißest gehen
hin in die Ewig Freud.