Schönster Jesu, Gottes Lamm

Here is my translation of the Worship hymn, “Schönster Jesu, Gottes Lamm” (Gottfried Meißner, d. 1690), in ELGB # 216, first in the author’s Cüstrin (Kostrzyn) Gsb 1692, then in Crüger’s Praxis 1712 (appendix). The appointed melody is “Christus der uns selig macht.”

 

FAIREST Jesus, Lamb divine,
Who dost joy provide me!
Bridegroom Mine, my soul is Thine
Come, oh, come, and guide me,
Thy dear bride, with light from Thee,
As she stands before Thee;
She would stray most certainly
Without Thy bright glory.

2 Show her by Thy servant now
How to know Thee rightly,
With true faith her heart endow,
Let her life shine brightly;
Let her hear most fruitfully
Thy celestial learning,
Till some day her ears shall be
Thy clear voice discerning.

Translation © 2023 Matthew Carver.

GERMAN

Schönster Jesu! Gottes Lamm!
meines Herzens Freude!
meiner Seelen-Bräutigam!
komm, ach komm, mich leite,
Deine Braut mit Deinem Licht,
die hier vor dir stehen;
so Du ihr wirst leuchten nicht,
in der Irr sie gehet.

2 Zeig ihr jetzt durch Deinen Knecht,
wie sie recht mag gläuben,
christlich leben, fromm und recht,
und an Dich fest gläuben:
laß sie hören fruchtbarlich
Deine HimmelsLehren,
bis sie einstens fröhlich Dich
dort kann selber hören.

Vater aller Gnaden

Here is my translation of the Sunday hymn, “Vater aller Gnaden” (Gottfried Meißner, d. 1690), from Ev.-Luth. Gesangbuch #332. Included in Crüger’s 1712 ed. of Praxis, it is to be distinguished from “Vater aller Ehren” a hymn on the Our Father set to the same melody and first appearing in Freylinghausen. Fischer identifies our hymn as to be sung “before the Sermon,” thus for the Preaching Entrance. Some hymnals include a reference to Sirach 6:35: “Hear gladly the word of God, and mark the good sayings of Wisdom.” The appointed melody is “Jesu, meine Freude.”

FATHER of all graces,
Who from divers places
Bid’st us come today,
Where Thy Word is spoken,
And true faith awoken
In the heav’nly Way;
To us show
Thy face’s glow,
Light our way with ray abounding
Through the dark surrounding.

2 Jesus, Hope most holy
Of all sinners lowly
Sighing after Thee;
Smiles of mercy lend us,
Of our sickness mend us,
Lest we cease to be!
Heart and mind
Let be inclined
Heavenwards, to live forever
Unto Thee, dear Savior.

3 Spirit of salvation,
Mourners’ consolation!
Hearts’ most welcome Guest!
Come and dwell inside us,
Precious gifts provide us,
And refreshment blest:
E’en this hour
Grant by Thy pow’r
That we may in heart be turnèd,
By what here is learnèd.

Translation © 2022 Matthew Carver.

GERMAN

Vater aller Gnaden!
der du hast geladen
uns an diesen Ort,
dein Wort anzuhören,
uns den Weg zu lehren
zu der Himmelspfort:
zu uns richt dein Angesicht,
das uns leucht vor unsern Füßen
in den finsternissen.

2 Jesu, Trost der Sünder!
sieh, wie deine Kinder
kläglich nach dir sehn;
blick uns an in Gnaden,
heil den Seelenschaden,
weil wir sonst vergehn:
Sinn und Herz neig himmelwärts,
daß es einig bleib ergeben,
ewig dir zu leben.

3 Geist des Hochgeliebten!
Tröster der Betrübten!
schönster Herzensgast!
komm mit deinen Gaben
inniglich zu laben,
was du Theures hast.
Gieb jetzund in dieser Stund,
daß dein Diener uns mag lehren,
was uns kann bekehren.

Zions Burg ist meine Freude

Here is my translation of the Sunday hymn, “Zions Burg ist meine Freude” (Gottfried Meißner, d. 1690), from Ev.-Luth. Gesangbuch #330. (Anna Hoppe’s translation for Northwestern Lutheran 1926 is included below.) Fischer omits it from the list of the Meißner’s works. The earliest instance available to the translator is Johann Crüger’s Praxis, 1708 ed., without ascription. “G. (or Georg, or Gottfried) Meißner” appears in slightly later books, e.g., Wagner’s Pomeranian hymnal of 1735, and Bollhagen’s Heiliges Lippen- und Herzens-Opffer (Stettin, 1789). More recently, in Kirchl. Zeitschr. 4 (1878), p. 174, it is designated for the congregational hymn upon entering the church at a Dedication of a new church. The appointed melody is “Zion klagt mit Angst und Schmerzen.”

ZION’S mountain is my pleasure,
My delight, God’s city fair,
Pasture fresh in ample measure,
Balm of souls beyond compare!
Here, therefore, I take my place,
To behold its beauteous grace,
And to praise my Rock and Tower
For His wonders, might, and power.

2 Now, my God, let supplication,
Teaching, hearing, hymnody—
Every sacred operation—
Solely for Thy glory be!
And, as in Thy house I go
Here on earth, this too bestow:
That I may go hence to glory,
And with joy abide before Thee.

Translation © 2022 Matthew Carver.
 

HOPPE:

Zion’s Fortress is my Treasure, -
Glorious City of my God!
Here my soul finds endless pleasure,
Pastures green adorn its sod!
When I view its splendor bright,
And behold God’s power and might,
My heart thrills with pure elation
At the wonders of salvation.

Sweetest praises to Thee bringing,
Zion lauds Thee, O Most High!
Teaching, hearing, praying, singing
Thy blest Courts do sanctify.
To and from Thy House I go;
If such joy I here may know,
With what bliss shall I adore Thee
When in Heav’n I stand before Thee?

GERMAN

Zions Burg ist meine Freude,
mein Lust ist Gottes Stadt,
in derselben find ich Weide
und für meine Seele Rath;
drum erscheine ich allhier
anzuschauen seine Zier,
und zu preisen Gottes Werke,
seine Wunder, Macht und Stärke.

2 Nun, mein Gott! laß Beten, Singen,
Lehren, Hören und was mehr,
nur zu deinem Lob erklingen;
doch auch dieses mir gewähr,
daß, wie ich in deinem Haus
jetzo gehe ein und aus,
also ich auch dort mög gehen,
und mit Freuden vor dir stehen.