Gott ist mein Hülf und Schutz

Here is my translation of the hymn, "Gott ist mein Hülf und Schutz" (J. Olearius, 1671), from the author's Singekunst, for Epiphany III.

Mel.: Auf meinen lieben Gott.

 

GOD is my help and shield,

When foes their weapons wield

He soon their venture endeth.

Whatever need impendeth,

My prayer and all that grieveth,

He heartily receiveth.

2 My God, my hope, my light

Hath all my needs in sight,

He can and will be giving

As long as I am living

What to His praise redoundeth,

Since Him no foe confoundeth.

3 My Jesus is with me,

For aye my Help is He,

Who makes His bounties flourish,

My body and soul to nourish,

My heart its comfort seeth

In Him when all else fleeth.

4 His precious Word doth give

New strength and pow'r to live,

Health, joy, and life supplying,

E'en when a man is dying.

When He a word but speaketh

My every plague He breaketh.

5 So, God, my thanks and praise

I'll give Thee all my days

For all Thy goods availing, 

O Friend of man unfailing!

Oh, grant me to Thy glory

Forever to adore Thee!

Translation (c) 2026 Matthew Carver.

GERMAN

Tba

Amen, Gott Vatr und Sohn

Here is my translation of  “Amen, Gott Vatr und Sohn,” the concluding prayer hymn (Anonymous) appearing as Evangelisch-Lutherisches Gesanagbuch #45 (2 stanzas) and evidently related to the similarly-titled #695 in 5 (a translation of which is found in Lutheran Prayer Companion, hymn #71, p. 413). Fischer, in his Kirchenlieder-Lexicon, summarizes the history of the latter and thereby of the former: “A Trinitarian closing hymn on the word ‘Amen’ in 6 [? later 5] stanzas. Melody: ‘Nun laßt uns Gott dem Herren.’ The notable hymn is first found in the hymnal Geistliche Lieder unnd Psalmen, Erffurdt 1611 . . . with the title ‘Of the glory and coming of Christ.’ It was altered somewhat by combination with the closing or ‘Amen’ stanzas from hymns of Ludwig Helmbold . . . In some hymnals, as in Gotha 1660, Magdeburg 1738, Schleusingen 1745, it was therefore attributed to Helmbold without further explanation. But the Erfurt hymnal 1648 justly titles it: ‘Drawn from certain festival hymns of Helmbold.’ . . . An excerpt from our hymn: ‘Amen, Gott Vatr und Sohn / sei Lob ins Himmels Thron’ in 2 stanzas (Melody: ‘Auf meinen lieben Gott’) is found as a post-sermon hymn in Halberstadt and the Liederschatz.”

 

AMEN! be praise and laud
To Father, Son, one God!
His Spirit work faith in us
Let naught from God’s Word win us,
Preserve it in us ever,
Till He our life-cord sever.

2 Amen! God’s praises own,
Who points us to His Son!
May He help and deliver
Us all in Christ our Savior,
And after this life’s sadness,
Grant us the crown of gladness!

Translation © 2022 Matthew Carver.

GERMAN

Amen, Gott Vatr und Sohn
sei Lob ins Himmelsthrone,
sein Geist stärk uns im Glauben,
laß uns das Wort nicht rauben;
er woll's in uns bewahren,
bis wir von hinnen fahren.

2 Amen, Gott sei gepreist,
der uns auf Jesum weist,
der helf uns all'n zusammen
in Jesu Christi Namen,
und woll nach diesem Leben
die Freudenkron uns geben.

German for the 5-stanza version (English in Lutheran Prayer Companion #71):

GERMAN

1 Amen, Gott Vat'r und Sohne
sei Lob ins Himmelsthrone!
Sein Geist stärk uns im Glauben
und mach uns selig, Amen.

2 Amen! es wird geschehen,
wir werden Christum sehen
ins Himmels Wolken kommen,
uns mitzunehmen; Amen.

3 Amen! uns ewig währe
die Freude; Gott die Ehre!
Bringt alle Sprachn zusammen
in einem Glauben! Amen.

4 Amen! kein Tod soll schrecken!
Christus will uns erwecken,
der selbst zuvor begraben,
nun ewig lebet! Amen.

5 Amen! Gott sei gepreiset!
der Geist auf Christum weiset;
der helf uns all zusammen
ins ewge Leben! Amen.