Kommt wieder aus der finstern Gruft

Here is my translation of the Easter hymn, “Kommt wieder aus der finstern Gruft” (Valentin Ernst Löscher, d. 1749), in GGELB #103 under variant form, “Kommt, betet an bei Christi Gruft” with melody assignment “Es ist das Heil uns kommen her.” Fischer notes that Rambach includes it in his Anthologie from the Colditz Kirchen-Schul- und Hauß-Gsb (1724, 1st ed. 1714), where it appears as a “Communion Aria for Eastertide” with intercalated stanzas of the old hymn, “Heut triumphieret Gottes Sohn” (“Today in Triumph Christ Arose” in 7 stanzas, with supplement by the present translator, in Walther’s Hymnal #107). It is first found in Löscher’s Dreyfache Andachts-Ubung (Dresden, 1713), where it likewise appears as a cantata. In the intercalated arrangement, the stanza “Heut triumphieret” follows stanza 1, “Dem Teufel hat…” follows stanza 2, &c. The 6th stanza specifically deals with Communion. The variant form is found in Knapp’s Liederschatz (1837) somewhat reverses the ideas of the opening lines, and makes slightly more explicit, if less poetic, the references to the Supper’s essence, use, and efficacy in stanza 6. Therefore, and because GGELB uses the variant form, I include the most substantial changes in square brackets. The melody devised by Bach (BWV 480), found in Schemelli 1736, is also used occasionally in later hymnals where the original textual form is preserved.

 

 

RETURN, ye senses, and forsake [Come, at the tomb of Christ adore!]
The tomb that darkly glowers! [Ye hearts so sore aggrievèd;]
New courage and fresh comfort take, [Your courage and your hope restore,]
And look to Zion’s towers, [Let sorrows be relievèd]
For Jesus, in the tomb who lay,
Upon the third and glorious day,
O’er death secured the vict’ry.

2 Arise and thank Him heartily
This day of jubilation,
Who founded by His agony
The cov’nant of salvation
Which is by grace. Our God is He,
Who life and immortality
Restored, and stole death’s power.

3 Now all that follow Christ their Head
Are joined in faith and favor;
Since Christ is risen from dead,
Who shall condemn them ever?
Here is the Man who overcame,
Broke death’s strong bands, and now in fame
At God’s right hand is seated.

4 Thou sore afflicted Christian host,
Forget what now oppresses;
Though it increase to th’ uttermost,
Press boldly through distresses
With Him who tomb and seal did break,
And mightily in mock’ry spake:
“O death, where is thy sting now?”

5 Our Savior’s vict’ry yet avails,
Our vict’ry too supplying:
Bolt, lock, and door its pow’r unseals,
Sin, world, and foe defying!
And with this Victor great of might,
All things are done and set aright:
“O hell, where is thy vict’ry?”
    
6 To seal this blessedness, the Lord,
A precious table setting,
A food immortal doth afford,
That none should be forgetting;
Life pours a drink, that we may live— [His holy Body is bestowed]
Which He, the slaughtered Lamb, doth give. [And we are giv’n to drink His Blood]
O precious Easter blessing!

7 To God all praise and thanks be said,
Who hath the vic’try given,
Who hath restored what once was dead
Again to life and heaven;
The vict’ry’s ours, for Jesus lives,
Who life with Him forever gives:
To God be all the glory!

Translation © 2024 Matthew Carver.

GERMAN

Kommt wieder aus der finstern Gruft, [Kommt, betet an bei Christi…]
ihr Gott ergebnen Sinnen! [ihr tiefbetrübten Herzen!]
Schöpft neuen Muth und frische Luft,
blickt hin nach Zions Zinnen; [und stillet eure Schmerzen;]
denn Jesus, der im Grabe lag,
hat als ein Held am dritten Tag [ist auferstnaden diesen Tag,]
des Todes Reich besieget. [und hat den Tod…]

2 Auf! danket ihm mit Herz und Mund
am Tage seiner Freuden!
Er hat den ewgen Gnadenbund
gegründet durch sein Leiden,
er hat dem Tod entwandt die Macht,
das Leben aber wiederbracht
und unvergänglichs Wesen.

3 Nun tritt, was Christo ähnlich ist,
in Glaubenskraft zusammen,
weil Christus auferstanden ist,
wer will sein Volk verdammen?
Hier ist der Mann, der überwand [der Held]
und nach zerrissnen Todesband [zerrissnem]
zur Rechten Gottes sitzet.

4 Du wohlgeplagtes Christenheer, [vielgeplagtes]
vergiss, was drückt und naget,
gesetzt, es häuft sich mehr und mehr; [und wann sichs häufet…]
nur frisch mit dem gewaget, [getrost mit ihm…]
der durch des Grabes Siegel brach
und zu dem Tode mächtig sprach:
Wo ist nunmehr dein Stachel?

5 Doch Christi Sieg ist gut dafür, [Des Herren Sieg…]
der lehrt uns überwinden [er…]
und öffnet Riegel, Schloß und Thür
trotz Teufel, Welt und Sünden!
Mit diesem großen Siegesmann
ist alles kurz und gut gethan. [wird selig jedes Werk…]
Wo bleibt dein Sieg, o Hölle?
    
6 Zum Siegel solcher Seligkeit
gibt uns der Herr zu essen
die Speise der Unsterblichkeit,
die niemand soll vergessen; [sein Heil nie zu …]
der Lebenssaft uns heilsam tränkt, [Sein heilger Leibt wird uns geschenkt,]
den das erwürgte Lamm uns schenkt. [sein Blut ists, das uns alle tränkt,]
O edler Ostersegen!

7 Gott, unserm Gott, sei Lob und Dank,
der uns den Sieg gegeben,
der das, was hin ins Sterben sank, [und, was in Sünd und Tod versank,]
hat wiederbracht zum Leben.
Der Sieg ist unser: Jesus lebt,
der uns zur Herrlichkeit erhebt,
Gott sei davor gelobet. [Gebt unserm Gott die Ehre!]

O großer Gott von Macht

Here is my translation of the repentance hymn, “O großer Gott von Macht" (B. Schnurr, 1678, sts 1-8; J. M. Meyfart, st.9), for times of general need. This hymn, the final stanza of which Bach uses in his cantata for Trinity X, is interesting for several reasons. Its arrangement consists of six lines of original text each stanza, appealing to God’s various divine attributes for pardon and mercy to prevail over strict righteousness and to spare the people and land in the midst of some unnamed necessity; and appended to this, a two-line semi-refrain of supplication based on the progressively audacious intercessions of Abraham in Genesis 18. Note that I attempt to reproduce the rhyme scheme of the German, which perhaps unnecessarily fails to rhyme the first and third lines. But the contiguity of these lines is enhanced by the quickness of the music, so that rhymes here would be foreign to the expression. Additionally, the hymn has had several proper tunes or variant melodies over the years (Zahn 5105–5117). I include the original along with that more nearly approximating Bach's (Zahn 5105 a–b resp.). The first may be attributed to Melchior Franck (Leipzig, 1632); the second form is found in Hiller, 1798, and follows the variant originally published in Praxis Pietatis Melica (Berlin, 1661).

 

GREAT GOD of mighty pow’r,
Abounding in all grace,
Wilt Thou the land entire
In furious wrath erase?
What if there be some faithful still
Which do according to Thy will?
Thy mercy then afford us,
Not for our works reward us!

2 Great God of honor famed,
Far be it from Thee now
To beat with dread rebuke
Both good and evil brow!
What if there be some fifty still
Which do according to Thy will?
Thy mercy then afford us, &c.

3 Great God of counsel wise,
Let mercy now abound,
Let righteous judgment yield,
Nor so severe be found.
What if there forty-five be still
Which do according to Thy will?
Thy mercy then afford us, &c.

4 Great God of strength to save,
Regard the suff’ring land,
And from Thy scourges dire
Withdraw Thy reaching hand.
What if there be some forty still
Which do according to Thy will?
Thy mercy then afford us, &c.

5 Great God of boundless might,
From all Thy wrath relent,
As often to Thine ear
Our wretched pray’r is sent;
What if there be some thirty still
Which do according to Thy will?
Thy mercy yet afford us, &c.

6 Great God of grace renowned,
Oh, hear us as we cry,
And in Thy lofty throne
Perceive our lowly sigh!
What if there be some twenty still
Which do according to Thy will?
Thy mercy then afford us, &c.

7 Great God of act and deed,
Hear humble earth implore,
Which of Thy lenient heart
Would ask this one thing more:
What if there be but ten souls still
Which do according to Thy will?
Thy mercy then afford us, &c.

8 Great God of glorious praise,
Have sins their limit passed,
And wilt Thou in Thy rage
Destroy us all at last,
Yet may the little children still
Do right, according to Thy will,
Thy mercy then afford us,
Not for our works reward us!

9 Great God of faithfulness,
Since naught avails with Thee
But Christ, Thy Son, who stilled
Thy just hostility,
Behold His wounds, His anguish grim,
His pains and sorrows, and for Him
Thy mercy now afford us,
Not for our works reward us!

Translation © 2017 Matthew Carver. 

GERMAN
The German text is found here.

Jesu, nun sei gepreiset

Here is my translation of the New Year hymn “Jesu, nun sei gepreiset” (Johannes Herman, †1593). Written by a Thomaskantor of the late 16th century, it was notably used by J.S. Bach for the New Year Cantata. The appointed melody is by Melchior Vulpius (1609).

JESUS! to Thee be praises
Upon this new year’s dawn,
For all Thy loving graces
That through the year were shown
In danger, need, and sadness;
Still dost Thou deign to bless
With this new day gladness
And heav’nly blessedness.
In peace the year is ending;
We leave to Thy good tending
Ourselves both now and ever,
And pray Thee, Savior dear,
To shield us with Thy favor
Throughout the coming year! (x2)

2. May we, this year concluding,
Give glory to Thy name,
With all Thy church exuding
Fair songs to Thine acclaim.
Grant life and preservation
By Thine almighty hand,
Preserve Thy Christian nation
And save our native land!
Bestow on us Thy blessing,
Shed peace on all unceasing,
And let Thy Word salvific
In purity go forth;
Beat down the foe horrific
Both here and o’er the earth. (x2)

3. Thine only is the glory
Thine only is the praise;
Teach us to walk before Thee
Meek through the evil days;
Guide all our deeds, till, splendid
To heaven’s realm we fly
In peace and joy unblended,
To shine as saints on high;
For now make us in measure
According to Thy pleasure:
This pray’r we bring before Thee
With mouth and heart sincere
And on this day implore Thee,
Send us a blest New Year. (x2)

Translation © 2015 Matthew Carver.

GERMAN

1. Jesu, nun sei gepreiset
zu diesem neuen Jahr
für dein Güt, uns beweiset
in aller Not und Gfahr.
daß wir haben erlebet
die neu fröhliche Zeit,
die voller Gnaden schwebet
und ewger Seligkeit;
dß wir in guter Stille
das alte Jahr habn erfüllet.
Wir wolln uns dir ergeben
itzund und immerdar
behüt Leib, Seel und Leben
hinfort durchs ganze Jahr. (x2)

2. Laß uns das Jahr vollbringen
zu Lob dem Namen dein,
daß wir demselben singen
in der Christen Gemein.
Wollst uns das Leben fristen
durch dein allmächtig Hand,
erhalt dein liebe Christen
und unser Vaterland!
Dein Segen zu uns wende,
Gib Fried an allem Ende,
Gib unverfälscht im Lande
Dein seligmachend Wort,
Die Teufel mach zuschanden
Hier und an allem Ort! (x2)

3. Dein ist allein die Ehre ,
dein ist allein der Ruhm;
Geduld im Kreuz uns lehre,
regier all unser Tun,
bis wir fröhlich abscheiden
ins ewig Himmelreich,
zu wahrem Fried und Freude,
den Heilgen Gottes gleich.
Indes machs uns allen
nach deinem Wohlgefallen:
solchs singet heut ohn Scherzen
die christgläubige Schar
und wünscht mit Mund und Herzen
ein seligs neues Jahr. (x2)