Wir blicken auf, o Herr, zu dir

Here is my translation of the cornerstone-laying hymn, “Wir blicken auf, o Herr, zu dir” (Anon., 1870?), in GGELB #141 with melody assignment “Erhalt uns herr bei deinem Wort.” No author or earlier instance is known, and it is likely the product of the hymnal committee, as was the previous hymn for the laying of a cornerstone, GGELB #140, “Wir legen, Herr, in deinem Namen.” C. H. L. Schuette provided a translation of that hymn, but not, evidently, of this. Schuette’s “O Lord, Our God, Accept, We Pray” is for the occasion of the consecration or dedication of a church (i.e., once it has been built).
 
 

WE look, O Lord, to Thee this day
As here this cornerstone we lay,
To build a temple where Thy Word
Shall ever be proclaimed and heard.

2 Already Thou by Christ, Thy Son,
The first foundation-work hast done,
And of the church each member made
A living stone, within her laid.

3 Thus holy we regard the place
Where Christ brings us before Thy face,
The blessing pledges and doth give,
And on our lips Thy name doth live.

4 Then bless us and with us abide,
And bless this cornerstone beside,
Keep us thereon without dissent
By Thy dear Word and Sacrament.

Translation © 2024 Matthew Carver.

GERMAN

Wir blicken auf, o Herr, zu dir
und legen diesen Grundstein hier
zum Tempel, darin fort und fort
verkündet werden soll dein Wort.

2 Du hast durch Christum, deinen Sohn,
den Grund in uns geleget schon,
und jedes Glied der Kirche dein
geschaffen zum lebendgen Stein;

3 Drum auch die Stätt uns heilig ist,
da uns versammelt Jesus Christ,
da Segen er verheißt und schenkt,
wo deines Namens man gedenkt.

4 So segn uns denn und wohn uns bei;
auch diesen Grundstein benedei;
erhalt auf ihm uns ungetrennt
mit deinem Wort und Sakrament.

Wir legen, Herr, in deinem Namen

Here is my translation of the cornerstone-laying hymn, “Wir legen, Herr, in deinem Namen” (Anon., 1870?), in GGELB #140 with melody assignment “Wer nur den lieben Gott läßt walten.” No author or earlier instance is known. It may be product of a member of the hymn committee. Sufficient hymns for such an occasion were found wanting otherwise. Still in 1895, Lochner includes in his Liturgische Formulare, from his earlier liturgical journal, an anonymous (?his own) hymn for the laying of a cornerstone: “Herr, hilf, laß wohl gelingen.” A different translation, “In Thy dear name and by Thy favor,” was included already in ELH (Ohio, 1880) by C. H. L. Schuette, and later in ALH (1930), where the melody “O daß ich tausend Zungen hätte” is assigned.

 

LORD, in Thy name a new foundation
We here would lay, Thy house to raise.
In mercy speak Thine affirmation
And let it prosper for Thy praise.
Thy Spirit here let mighty be
Through Thy pure Word continually.

2 Firm in the faith, O Jesus, ground us
On Thee, the Rock, our Lord alone,
That here Thy hymns may echo round us,
O Christ, the church’s Cornerstone!
Anoint and consecrate to Thee
This stone our Bethel for to be.

3 Grant us success in this endeavor,
Which only to Thy service tends;
Look on our off’ring with Thy favor;
Be Thou Thy people’s strong defense.
Then shall we all sing joyfully
All worship, laud, and praise to Thee.

4 Preserve us in the faith unerring
The Word and Sacraments defend,
Grant none to rob our crown enduring;
Yea, with us be until the end,
Built on Thyself, the one, true ground,
And in Thy grace’s cov’nant found.

Translation © 2024 Matthew Carver.

OHIO 1880:

1 In Thy dear name and by Thy favor,
This day we lay the corner-stone,
To build a house, O God and Savior,
To Thee, and to Thy praise alone.
Here let Thy Spirit by Thy Word
Perform Thy work of grace, dear Lord.

2 O let us all by faith be grounded,
Lord Jesus Christ, on Thee alone;
That is our midst Thy praise be sounded,
Who art the Church's Corner-stone.
To keep us in Thy faith and fear,
Build Thee and us a temple here.

3 Accept our off'rings, we implore Thee,
And bless the work we have begun;
To Thee alone and to Thy glory
This building consecrate, when done;
Then will we hither come and raise
Our hearts to Thee in thanks and praise.

4 Thro' saving faith preserve us ever
In Thy pure Word and Sacrament;
Be with us all, forsake us never;
To serve Thee make our hearts intent;
And when we die, O grant that we
Be found in cov'nant grace with Thee.

GERMAN

Wir legen, Herr, in deinem Namen
den Grund zu einem Heiligthum.
Sprich gnädig dazu Ja und Amen
und laß es dienen dir zum Ruhm.
Dein Geist hier walte fort und fort
durchs reine, lautre Gotteswort.

2 Im Glauben gründe fest uns alle
auf dich, den Fels, Herr Jesu Christ;
daß unter uns dein Lob erschalle,
der du der Kirche Eckstein bist.
O salbe, weihe diesen Stein,
daß er uns mög ein Bethel sein.

3 Gedeihen gieb zu diesem Baue
der deinem Dienst alleine gilt;
auf unsre Opfer gnädig schaue;
sei deines Volkes Schirm und Schild.
Dann singen fröhlich alle wir
Anbetung, Preis und Ehre dir.

4 Bewahr uns stets im rechten Glauben
beim reinen Wort und Sakrament;
laß niemand unsre Krone rauben;
ja, bleibe bei uns bis ans End!
Erbaut auf dich, den rechten Grund,
erhalt uns all im Gnadenbund.

Herr, hilf! laß wohl gelingen

Here is my translation of the hymn for the Laying of a Cornerstone, “Herr, hilf! laß wohl gelingen” (probably F. Lochner, d. 1902), published in Lochner’s Liturgische Formulare (1895) and probably written during his time editing and publishing Liturgische Monatsschrift, of which Liturgische Formulare represents the culmination. Here, he provides the hymn as an alternative to “Nun danket alle Gott” (“Now thank we all our God”) after the Benediction closing the service of the Laying of a Cornerstone. The appointed melody is “Valet will ich dir geben.” The reference to Zechariah is noted in Liturgische Formulare and referenced in a later instance, when the first stanza hymn is quoted in a piece in the Synodical Conference missions magazine, Missions-Taube, commemorating the laying of the cornerstone for Immanuel College, Greensboro, N. C. (Note the picture and adjacent article concerning the engagement of new professor, Martin Lochner, at Greensboro, i.e., the son of the original editor of the Missions-Taube, i.e., Friedrich Lochner.)

 

HELP, Lord, success bestowing
On what is here begun!
Thy people joy in knowing
Thou art their Cornerstone.
The mind by doubt afflicted
Thy works would weigh and test;
But hearts by faith convicted,
in Thy great pow’r may rest.

On Thee the Church is founded,
In Thy great name alone
Let faith’s Amen be sounded
Upon this settled stone!
Grace, grace to it,* ye brothers!
The Lord will help to build;
In Him, our Head, we others
Shall find all worries stilled.

Almighty King of glory,
Lord Jesus, Son of God!
Here will Thy sacred story
Spread to the earth abroad!
Here wilt Thou give salvation,
Thy blessings here increase;
With Thee as the foundation
’Twill be Thy house of peace.

* And he (Zerubbabel) shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it! (Zech. 4:7).

Translation © 2021–2 Matthew Carver.

GERMAN

Herr, hilf, laß wohl gelingen,
Was hier begonnen ist;
Dein Volk kann fröhlich singen,
Weil du der Eckstein bist.
Der Zweifel wägt und zählet
Gar ängstiglich dein Tun;
Der Glaube, mutbeseelet,
darf in der Allmacht ruhn.

2 In deinem großen Namen,
der deine Kirche trägt,
sei heut ein gläubig Amen
auf diesen Stein gelegt.
Glück zu, Glück zu,* ihr Brüder,
der Herr wird helfen baun.
Wie, sollten denn die Glieder
Dem Haupte nicht vertraun?

(Segen)
3. Ja, König aller Ehren,
Herr Jesu, Gottes Sohn!
Du wirst dein Reich hier mehren,
der Glaube sieht es schon:
Dein Heil wird hier verkündet,
Ins Haus zieht Segen ein,
Es wird, auf dich gegründet,
ein Friedenstempel sein.

*Und er (Serubabel) soll ausführen den ersten Stein, daß man rufen wird: Glück zu, Glück zu! Sach. 4, 9.