O Herr, vor dem sich Erd und Himmel beuget

Here is my translation of the church dedication hymn, “O Herr, vor dem sich Erd und Himmel beuget” (Albert Knapp, d. 1864), in GGELB #144 with melody assignment “Herzliebster Jesu, was hast du verbrochen” and note: “From the Latin, 3rd c. AD or earlier.” Meant is the Latin hymn for church dedication, “Christe cunctorum Dominator alme,” composed probably in the 9th c. AD. This German paraphrase appears in Knapp’s Evangelischer Liederschatz (1837ff.), thence into various hymnals, e.g., Lübeck 1839, Schaffhausen 1867 (Ref.), Saxony 1883. Knapp’s stanza 1 includes ideas from Latin st. 1–2; other ideas of Latin st. 2 are also included in German st. 8. Stanza 4 combines Latin 5–6, the latter exorcised of devils, however. Stanza 6 combines ideas of Latin sts. 8–9. Common today in Anglophone countries is an abbreviated form of “Only-Begotten Son of God eternal,” a non-rhyming translation from the Latin by M. J. Blacker.

 

O LORD, adored by earth and heav’n supernal,
God’s Son, begotten ere all worlds eternal,
Graciously hear our grateful adoration
And supplication. (1–2)

2 Lord, to Thy service is this house appointed:
Here do Thine own, with Spirit’s joy anointed,
Eat of the Blood and Body that Thou gavest,
By which Thou savest. (3)

3 Here in Thy holy fount are debts erasèd,
Here all the damage of the soul effacèd,
Here babes to Thee, who death hast subjugated,
Are consecrated. (4)

4 Here wilt Thou heal the sick, the weary quicken,
Lighten the blind, give peace to those sin-stricken.
Here shall the heart stung by abundant sorrow
Fresh courage borrow. (5–6)

5 Here is the forecourt of the Lord immortal,
Here is His Holy Place, and heaven’s portal,
Which open stands to all who seek the Savior
And life forever. (7)

6 Though in the tempest all things else be flying,
Still stands the church, a rock the storm defying,
In Jesus’ shelter, hell’s  disdaining,
Safely remaining. (8–9)

7 Therefore rejoice we at this consecration,
Praying: Dear Lord, receive our supplication,
And on this church bestow in gracious favor
Thy blessing ever. (10)

8 Let nothing rob the joy of hearts elated,
Let this glad day be often celebrated,
Feed, Lord, Thy people oft the gives of heaven
Which here are given. (11)

9 Glory to Thee, O Father, be forever,
To Thee, God’s Son, to Thee, sweet Comfort-giver!
For endless ages, teach us, who confess Thee,
Further to bless Thee. (12)

Translation © 2024 Matthew Carver.

GERMAN

O Herr, vor dem sich Erd und Himmel beuget,
du, Gottes Sohn, von Ewigkeit gezeuget,
blick auf der Deinen Flehn und Dankeslieder
huldreich hernieder!

2 Dies Haus, o Herr, ist deinem Dienst geweihet;
Hier schmecken deine Gläubgen hocherfreuet
das Blut, den Leib, den du zu unserm Leben
dahingegeben.

3 Hier wird in deinem hellgen Wasserbade
die Schuld getilgt, geheilt der Seelenschade;
hier weihen wir, o Todesüberwinder,
dir unsre Kinder.

4 Hier finden Kranke Heilung, Kraft die Müden,
die Blinden Licht, die Sünder Seelenfrieden;
hier athmen freier bei des Lebens Schmerzen
die wunden Herzen.

5 Des Ewgen Vorhof ist an diesem Orte,
das Heiligthum des Herrn, des Himmels Pforte,
stets offen allen, die dem ewgen Leben
entgegenstreben.

6 Mag bei der Stürme Wüthen alles zittern,
die Kirche steht, ein Fels in Ungewittern,
und bleibet bei der Hölle wildstem Trutze
in Christi Schutze.

7 Drum freun wir uns der heilgen Tempelweihe,
und bitten: Herrz, Allgütiger, verleihe,
daß uns geleite dein mildreicher Segen
auf allen Wegen!

8 Nichts raube uns des Herzens fromme Freude;
oft kehre dieser Tag zurück; oft weide
dein Volk, o Herr, sich an dem Himmelsgaben,
die hier uns laben!

9 Lob und Anbetung töne dir, o Vater!
Dir, Gottes Sohn, dir, Tröster und Berather!
Lehr uns, dein Volk, durch alle Ewigkeiten
dein Lob ausbreiten!

LATIN (from Daniel, for reference)

1 Christe cunctorum Dominator alme,
Patris aeterni genitus ab ore,
Supplicum vota pariterque hymnum
Cerne benignus.

2 Cerne, quod puro Deus in honore
Plebs tua supplex resonet in aula
Annua cuius redeunt colenda
Tempora festa.

3 Haec domus rite tibi dedicata
Noscitur, in qua populus sacratum
Corpus assumit, bibit et beati
Sanguinis haustum.

4 Hic sacrosancti latices veternas
Diluunt culpas, perimuntque noxas
Chrismate vero genus ut creetur
Christicolarum.

5 Hic salus aegris, medicina fessis,
Lumen orbatis, veniaque nostris
Fertur offensis, timor adque moeror
Pellitur omnis.

6 Daemonis saeva perit hic rapina,
Pervicax monstrum pavet et retenta
Corpora linquens fugit in remotas
Ocyus umbras.

7 Hic locus nempe vocitatur aula
Regis immensi, vineaque caeli
Vitae quae sanctos patriam petentes
Accipit omnes.

8 Turbo quem nullus quatit, aut vagantes
Diruunt venti penetrantque nimbi;
Non tetris laedit piceus tenebris
Tartarus horrens.

9 Quaesumus ergo Deus ut sereno
Annuas vultu, famulos gubernans,
Qui tui summo celebrant amore
Gaudia templi.

10 Nulla nos vitae crucient molestas:
Sint dies laeti placidaeque noctes:
Nullus ex nobis pereunte mundo
Sentiat ignes.

11 Haec dies in qua tibi consecratam
Conspicis aram, tribuat perenne
Gaudium nobis, vigeatque longo
Tempore usu.

12 Gloriam summum resonet Parentem;
Gloria Natum, pariterque sanctum
Spiritum dulci moduletur hymno
Omne per aevum. Amen.

Heut lobe Gott, du Christen-Chor

Here is my translation of the church consecration hymn, “Heut lobe Gott, du Christen-Chor!” (Paul Henkel, d. 1825), in NEGB #130 with melody assignment “Es ist das Heil uns kommen her.” The Church Hymn Book (1816ff.) has an English adaptation in 7 stanzas of Common Meter, with the title “For the consecrating of a Church.” (See below.)

 

O CHRISTIAN choir, thy God adore
With heart and mind rejoicing,
And enter at His Temple door,
Praise for His goodness voicing;
Remember now His bounteous grace
That He hath builded in this place
A house for His due glory!

2 Let every soul as due draw near
With song and supplication;
And God will surely make it clear
To our great jubilation
That He will dwell among us here,
His temple’s glory, light, and cheer,
His flock’s beloved Shepherd.

3 He feeds us with His mighty Word,
To meadows green doth guide us;
He is our Shield and Rock assured
Lest any harm betide us.
Who trust God’s mercy, surely find
His pow’r renews their soul and mind
And makes them His own children.

4 The Lord hath brought us hitherto,
And brings us on to heaven;
Let us but fight the warfare true,
So shall success be given.
In hope and faith we pray that He
Will cause true Christianity
Within our church to flourish.

5 O Jesus, pass Thy knowledge down
To every generation.
Thy Word with might and vigor crown
For sinful man’s salvation;
Let wand’ring shop be called again,
Be wakened from their sleep of sin,
And to Thy flock be gathered.

Translation © 2023 Matthew Carver.

CHURCH HYMN BOOK

We praise the Lord, whose love is great;
His mercies we embrace;
We enter now, His temple gate,
And thank him for his grace.

2 This house for sacred use design'd,
We dedicate to God;
Here may the Lord of glory find,
A dwelling and abode.

3 Here we approach thy sacred courts,
With reverence and fear;
We will engage our best efforts,
To worship Thee with pray'r.

4 Lord, may this be Thy sanctuary,
Here with Thy Spirit dwell:
To us and or posterity,
The way to heav'n reveal.

5 Here Savior, show Thy Gospel light,
And send Thy blessings down;
Bring thy life-giving Word to sight,
And make salvation known.

6 Here let Thy blessed Word be taught,
To us, and to our youth;
May thousands to that light be brought,
Where in they learn the truth.

7 Here let us hear the Gospel sound,
Attend Thy Word with grace;
Call many wand’ring sinners round,
To come and fill this place.

GERMAN

Heut lobe Gott, du Christenchor
mit freudigem Gemüthe,
geht ein durch seines Tempels Thor
und preiset seine Güte;
gedenket seiner großen Gnad,
das er sich hier errichtet hat,
ein Haus zu seiner Ehre.

2 Ein jeder komm nach seiner Pflicht,
mit Singen, Beten, Flehen;
vergesset solches nimmer nicht,
so wird man freudig sehen,
daß er wird selber wohnen hier
und sein des Tempels Licht und Zier,
und Hirte seiner Heerde.

3 Er weidet uns mit seinem Wort,
führt uns auf grünen Auen;
er ist das Leben, Schild und Hort,
die seiner Güte trauen,
erfahren, daß die göttlich Kraft,
sie ganz zu neuen Menschen macht,
und Gottes Kinder werden.

4 Bisher hat uns der Herr gebracht,
er wird uns weiter bringen;
wir üben gute Ritterschaft,
es wird uns auch gelingen;
wir hoffen, glauben, bitten drum,
der Herr wird wahres Christenthum
in unstre Kirche schaffen.

5 Hier, Jesu, pflanz Erkenntnis fort,
auf Kind und Kindes Kinder,
gib Kraft und Nachdruck deinem Wort,
beleb die todte Sünder;
laß rufen die verlorne Schaf,
erweck sie von dem Sündenschlaf,
bring sie zu deiner Heerde.
‡

Daß Gott befohlen hat

 

Here is my translation of the hymn for the consecration of elders and church wardens (officers), “Daß Gott befohlen hat” (Paul Henkel, d. 1825), in NEGB #127 with melody assignment “O Gott, du frommer Gott.” It is essentially a metrical instruction on the rite for which it is appointed (ordering deacons according to the sense of church officers, or non-ordained lay servants for the physical needs of the congregation and its property), concluding with a post-consecration prayer for the consecrated. The counterpart in The Church Hymn Book (1816ff.) is “The Great Apostle Gave Command” in 6 stanzas of Long Meter; where the title indicates “church wardens, or deacons.”

 

PAUL’S teaching testifies
That God hath so ordainèd
By His own counsel wise
That order be maintainèd,
The church to oversee,
And so it must and should—
Yea, it serves needfully
The congregation’s good.

2 He teaches Timothy
That in the congregations
It should so ordered be
In all such situations,
That servants ever should
Attend the church’s need
Who consecrated, would
The congregation lead.

3 Therefore in godly fear
We keep this consecration,
Appointing servants here
Whose solemn occupation
Shall be to serve with care
And faithfulness always
That all things well may fare,
God’s be the glorious praise.

   After the Consecration.

O God, Thy servant aid
To fill as doth befit him
The duty on him laid,
To which we here commit him;
Grant him with speed to do
Whatever work he should,
And when the work is through
Grant that the end be good.

Translation © 2023 Matthew Carver.

CHURCH HYMN BOOK

The great Apostle gave command,
Let every Church in order stand;
Good regulations must be made,
And be by all the Church obeyed.

2 To answer that, so good effect,
Saint Paul himself thus did direct:
To order deacons everywhere,
Who should that sacred office bear.

3 Let such who act the faithful part,
And have the cause of Christ at heart,
And such as are of good repute,
That needful office execute.

4 Is it their aim in all they do,
To raise the Savior’s Church below!
Their faithful labors will be blest,
And Jesus’ kingdom be increased.

5 Dear Lord be with thy spirit near,
While we ordain these brethren here;
May zeal and knowledge, love and grace,
Prepare and fit them for that place.

6 Be Thou their counsel when they need,
Their conduct bless, their labors speed;
Oh, may they be of greatest worth,
To aid and build Thy church on earth.

GERMAN

Daß Gott befohlen hat,
daß wir die Ordnung halten,
nach seinem weisen Rath,
die Kirche zu verwalten,
das zeugt uns Paulus Lehr,
so müße es auch sein;
ja daß es nöthig wär,
zum Besten der Gemein.

2 Er zeigt Timoth’um an,
so sollte ers bestellen:
das wäre wohl gethan
in allen solchen Fällen,
daß der Gemein allzeit
die Diener stets vorgehn,
die zu dem Dienst geweiht,
demselben vorzustehn.

3 Desgleichen thun auch wir
so wie uns ist befohlen,
wir ordnen Diener hier,
die der Gemeine sollen,
mit aller Treu und Fleiß
zum Besten der Gemein
zu Gottes Ehr und Preis
allzeit beschäftigt sein.

Nach der Einsegnung.

4 Ach Gott, hilf solchem thun,
was ihm zu thun gebühret,
wozu ihn sein Beruf
in seinem Stande führet;
gieb, daß er thue bald
das Werk, das er thun soll,
und wann ers thut, so gieb,
daß es gerathe wohl.
‡