Hilf, Herr Jesu, laß gelingen

Here is my supplementary translation of the original form of the hymn, “Hilf, Herr Jesu, laß gelingen” (J. Rist, 1644), from the author’s Himmlische Lieder for New Year’s Day, where it is found with a proper tune in the meter trochaic 878788. This was partly translated by C. H. Dunn, whose stanzas (except 16) are here included slightly altered, and supplemented with my own, as noted below. A popular translation by C. Winkworth, included in ELH (Ohio), ELHB, and TLH, begins “Help Us, O Lord, Behold, We Enter,” but unfortunately changes the meter to iambic 989888 (note accidental similarity in approach in st. 4).

Mel.: Hilf, Herr Jesu, laß gelingen.
 

HELP, Lord Jesus, let Thy blessing
Rest upon this op’ning year.
Let me now, new strength possessing,
Walk in love and holy fear.
With new life and fortune dress me;
Hear me in Thy grace and bless me!

2 Let all that I have intended
To accomplish or to say,
Be now to my God commended—
His the pow’r and glory aye,
Till each thought and meditation
Tendeth to Thine adoration.

3 Let the works my hands endeavor,
And the words my lips express
Be through Thee accomplished ever
And attain to good success;
Let me by new strength be fillèd
To perform what Thou hast willèd.

4 Every plan and undertaking
Let be done alone in Thee.
In my sleeping, in my waking,
Vouchsafe, Lord, to be with me.
On my going, go beside me;
On returning, help and guide me.

5 Let me only to the glory
Of Thy name in rev’rence kneel;
Help me more and more adore Thee,
Showing Thee the thanks I feel;
Let my pray’rs and supplication
Pierce Thy heav’nly habitation.

6 Food and drink to Thee commending,
In Thy name, Lord, let me dine;
Bounties from Thy hand descending
Bid me thank Thy grace divine.
Well Thy wisdom can empower
For good works and love each hour.

7 Let my pray’r, on faith ascending,
Come before Thy gracious throne,
For if Thou wilt be attending,
As to Thy beloved Son,
Then this faithful off’ring poured Thee
Will all pleasure, Lord, afford Thee.

8 Let this be a year of pardon,
Let me all my sins confess;
Grant no sins my heart to harden,
But Thy mercy me to bless;
In Thy grace, O Lord, receive me;
Thou alone canst all forgive me.

9 Grant Thy love and consolation;
God, my urgent pray’r receive
When I suffer tribulation
And in anguish come to grieve.
In my troubles strength supply me,
Let not sin and death destroy me.

10 Well anoint my wounds, dear Father,
Wash me with Thy hyssop clean;
Surely I, like every other,
Till the grave am hurt by sin.
Lord, blot out all my transgression,
Save me thus from tribulation.

11 Thou art wretched sinners’ Savior,
I, alas, am one of them;
Thou canst give me grace and favor;
Save me from this pain and shame.
For the weak and faint Thou knowest,
And upon them strength bestowest.

12 Pay my debts that tow’r above me,
Who am grieved, with naught to pay.
Lord, in Thy Beloved love me!
Thy Son Jesus is my Stay.
Jesus will from death retrieve me,
Jesus will in death not leave me.

13 Let this year to me be holy,
Let Thy grace fill every thought,
Let my life be pure and lowly,
Truthful, as a Christian’s ought;
Make me while on earth yet dwelling
Year by year in grace excelling.

14 Let me, wretched, sinful being,
Walk Thy Way of godliness,
Let me pride and pomp be fleeing,
Let me always pray and bless,
Let me shun sin, shame, and devil,
Let me gladly bear all evil.

15 Jesus, govern my beginning,
Jesus, e’er abide with me,
Jesus, turn my heart from sinning,
Jesus, my sole Longing be,
Jesus, in my thought be ever,
Jesus, let me wander never.

16 Jesus, let me close with gladness
In Thy name this year begun,
Bear me through all harm and sadness
On Thy hands till all is done.
I will Thee embrace glad-hearted
When this world I have departed.

Translation sts. 1, 8, 13, C. H. Dunn, 1857, alt.; stanzas 2–7, 9–12, 14–16, © 2025 Matthew Carver.

GERMAN

Hilf, Herr Jesu, laß gelingen,
hilf das Neue Jahr geht an,
laß es neue Kräfte bringen,
daß aufs neu ich wandeln kann,
laß mich dir befohlen sein,
auch darneben all das mein
neues Glück und neues Leben
wollst du mir aus Gnaden geben.

2 Alles, was ich auszurichten
und zu reden bin bedacht,
müße mich mein Gott verpflichten,
deines theuren Namens Macht,
daß auch das, was ich gedenke,
dich zu preisen stets sich lenke.

3 Meiner Hände Werk und Thaten,
meiner Zungen Red und Wort
müße nur durch dich gerathen
und ganz glücklich gehen fort.
Neue Kraft laß mich erfüllen
zu verrichten deinen Willen.

4 Was ich dichte, was ich mache,
das gescheh in dir allein,
wen ich schlafe, wen ich wache,
wollest du, Herr, bei mir sein.
Geh ich aus, halt an zur Seiten,
komm ich heim, so hilf mich gleiten.

5 Laß mich beugen meine Kniee
nur zu deines Namens Ehr,
hilf, daß ich mich stets bemühe
dich zu preisen mehr und mehr.
Laß mein Bitten und mein Flehen
doch im Himmel vor dir stehen.

6 Laß mich, Herr, in deinem Namen
fröhlich nehmen Speis und Trank,
Güter, die von dir herkamen
fordern ja von mir den Dank.
Deine Weisheit kann mich stärken
zu der Lieb und guten Werken.

7 Meine Gebet das muß aufsteigen,
Herr, vor deinen Gnadenthron,
den wirst du zu mir dich neigen
wie zu deinem lieben Sohn.
Herr, ich weiß, es wird vor allen
diß mein Opfer dir gefallen.

8 Laß dies sein ein Jahr der Gnaden,
laß mich büßen meine Sünd,
hilf, daß sie mir nimmer Schaden
sondern bald Verzeihung sind.
Herr in dir, nur du mein Leben,
kannst die Sünd allein vergeben.

9 Tröste mich mit deiner Liebe,
nimm, o Gott, mein Flehen hin,
weil ich mich so sehr betrübe,
ja voll Angst und Zagen bin,
stärke mich in meinem Nöthen

10 Salb, o Vater, meine Wunden,
wasche mich mit Isop ab,
zwar ich bin noch unverbunden,
doch verletzet bis aufs Grab,
tilg, Herr, meine Missethaten,
so wird meiner Noth gerathen.

11 Große Sünder kanst du heilen;
Ach, ich bin in ihrer Zahl!
Du, du kannst mir Gnad ertheilen;
hilf mir doch aus dieser Qual,
denn du kennest ja die Schachen,
die du wiedrum stark willt machen.

12 Zähle los mich hochbetrübten,
der ich nicht bezahlen kann.
liebe mich in dem Geliebten;
dein Sohn Jesus nimmt mich an.
Jesus laßt mich nicht verderben,
Jesus läßt mich nicht im Sterben.

13 Herr, du wollest Gnade geben,
daß dies Jahr mir heilig sei,
und ich Christlich könne leben
Sonder Trug und Heuchelei,
daß ich noch allhier auf ERden
fromm und selig möge werden.

14 Laß mich armen Sünder ziehen
deinen Weg der Frömmigkeit,
laß mich Stolz und Hoffart fliehen,
laß mich beten jederzeit,
las mich Schand und Unzucht meiden,
laß mich willig Unglück leiden.

15 Jesus, richte mein Beginnen,
Jesus, bleibe stets bei mir,
Jesus, zäume mir die Sinnen,
Jesus, sei nur mein Begier,
Jesus, sei mir in Gedanken,
Jesus, lasse nie mich wanken.

Durch Trauern und durch Plagen (supplement)

Here is my supplemental translation for the Silvester / New Year’s Eve hymn, “Durch Trauern und durch Plagen” (Gottfried Wilhelm Sacer, d. 1699), in GGELB #47 with melody assignment “Herzlich thut mich verlangen” and omitting stanzas 3–7; originating, according to Rambach, from the Stralsund Gsb 1665; also in the author’s collected Lieder (Gotha, 1714). Two partial translations exist in English by Dr. [F. W.] Gotch and Dr. J. E. Rankin, each omitting a different stanza. Since their styles are somewhat different, I provide a supplement for each, though one might simply prefer to patch Rankin’s from Gotch’s or vice versa. However, I give my supplemented form of Gotch’s text first, since it was published 40 years earlier than Rankin’s.

 

Gotch’s version supplemented.

Through many changeful morrows
Of anxious pilgrim life,
Through many cares and sorrows,
Through many a bitter strife,
Still onward am I pressing,
The year is passed away,
Thanks, Lord, to Thee, and blessing!
In all Thou wast my Stay.

2 Thou who hast well provided,—
My path I leave to Thee;
My Savior, who hast guided,
My portion still shalt be;
To Thee I would surrender
My will, no longer mine;
Be Thou my life’s Defender,
My heart be only Thine.

3 My God, my Love, Thy pleasure
My pleasure too shall be.
Keep me by every measure
From contradicting Thee.
My will to Thine retireth,
Yea, ’tis no more my own,
Since all my life desireth
To live as Thine alone.

4 In all things Thou wilt bless me,
Whilst to Thy will I bow;
Does penury distress me?
My highest Good art Thou.
Is persecution vexing?
Still, Lord, Thou shieldest me.
Is this world’s scorn perplexing?
I yield, and look to Thee.
 
5 Do I deserted languish?
Lord God, Thou’rt ever near.
My spirit filled with anguish?
Thou art my Comforter.
Does fierce disease befall me?
Submissive I will be.
Dost Thou from this world call me?
My life belongs to Thee.

6 Is heav’n my habitation?
There I in glory shine;
The final condemnation—
Praise God! that is not mine;
True, if my soul were driven
To darkness, Thou wert just,
But Thou hast all forgiven,
Through Jesus Christ, my trust.

7 Whate’er this year may send me,
O! keep me firm and true,
Each day Thy grace attend me,
And every morning new:
Old sins and follies leaving,
New strength by Thee supplied,
New blessings still receiving,
I take Thee for my guide.

Translation sts. 1–2, 4–7, Gotch, Baptist Magazine (1857).
Translation st. 3 © 2024 Matthew Carver.

Rankin’s Version, alt., and supplemented:

1 Through troubles and through sorrows,
Through want and grief and pain,
Through hope for brighter morrows,
And sunshine after rain,
O Lord, Thy hand has brought me
To round the closing year
The praise Thy love has taught me
My heart would render here.

2 Whoe’er my life has shielded,
In Thee has been my health;
What joy my life has yielded,
Still Thou hast been its wealth;
Thy grace has still upheld me,
Has richly me consoled,
When wayward, has compelled me
And brought me to the fold.

3 Thy love Thou hast revealed me,
And love, Lord, is Thy name;
Whatever’s been concealed me
Has shown that love the same.
My will I Thee surrender,
I need none of my own,
Since Thou art my defender,
And I walk not alone.

4 My way to Thine adjusting,
I wish them to be one,
And in Thy guidance trusting,
All evil shall I shun!
Do Thou, O Lord, protect me,
Though rough the future be;
Still counsel and direct me—
I’ll walk obediently.

5 Must I live on forsaken,
My Lord, Thy will be done;
Life’s blessings from me taken
And clouded in life’s sun.
Must I in sickness languish,
Submissive will I lie;
Must I go hence in anguish,
I shall not fear to die.

6 Shall I attain to heaven?
This, God, my Light, I know!
Shall hell my soul be given?
Thou wouldst not have it so!
I merit, sin-defilèd,
The flames of hell’s abode,
Yet I am reconcilèd
To Thee by Jesus’ blood.

7 Today the year is closing;
Safe hast Thou brought me through;
New grace from Thee disposing
My heart toward Thee anew;
Old sins by Thee forgiven;
Give Thou me better days;
I journey on to heaven
Cheered by Thy promises.

Translation sts. 1–5, 7, Rankin, German-English Lyrics (1897, 1898), alt.

Translation st. 6 © 2024 Matthew Carver.

RANKIN

1 Through trouble and through sorrow,
Through want and grief and gain,
Through hope for brigther morrow,
And sunshine after rain,
O Lord, Thy hand has brought me
To round the closing year
the praise Thy love has taught me
My heart would render here.

2 Who e’er my life has shielded,
In Thee has been my health;
What joy my life has yielded,
Still Thou hast been its wealth;
Thy grace has still upheld me,
Has richly me consoled,
When wayward, has compelled me
And brought me to the fold.

3 Thy love Thou hast revealed me,
And love, Lord, is Thy name;
Whatever’s been concealed me
Has shown that love the same.
My will I Thee surrender,
I need none of my own,
Since Thou art my defender,
And I walk not alone.

4 My way to Thine adjusting,
Thy way and mine are one,
And in Thy guidance trusting,
All evil shall I shun!
Do Thou, O Lord, protect me,
Though rough the future be;
Still counsel and direct me—
I’ll walk obediently.

5 Must I live on forsaken,
My Lord, Thy will be done;
Life’s blessings from me taken
And clouded in life’s sun.
Must I in sickness languish,
Submissive will I lie;
Must I go hence in anguish,
I shall not fear to die.

6 N/A

7 Today the year is closing;
Safe hast Thou brought me through;
New grace from Thee disposing
My heart toward Thee anew;
Old sins by Thee forgiven;
Give Thou me better days;
I journey on to heaven
Cheered by Thy promises.

GOTCH (1857, 1880)

1 Through many changeful morrows
Of anxious pilgrim life,
Through many cares and sorrows,
Through many a bitter strife,
Still onward am I pressing,
The year is passed away,
Thanks, Lord, to Thee, and blessing!
Thou wast in all my Stay. [In all Thou wast…]

2 Thou who hast well provided,—
My path I leave to Thee;
Thou, Savior, who hast guided, [My Savior, Thou…]
My portion still shalt be;
To Thee I would surrender
My will, no longer mine;
Be Thou my life’s Defender,
My heart be only Thine.

3 N/A

4 In all things Thou wilt bless me,
Whilst to Thy will I bow;
Does penury distress me?
My highest Good art Thou.
Is persecution vexing?
Still, Lord, Thou shieldest me.
Is this world’s scorn perplexing?
I yield, and look to Thee.
 
5 Do I deserted languish?
Lord God, Thou’rt ever near.
My spirit filled with anguish?
Thou art my Comforter.
Does fierce disease befall me?
Submissive I will be.
Dost Thou from this world call me?
My life belongs to Thee.

6 Is heav’n my habitation?
There I in glory shine;
The final condemnation—
Praise God! that is not mine;
True, if my soul were driven
To darkness, Thou wert just,
But Thou hast all forgiven,
Through Jesus Christ, my trust.

7 Whate’er this year may send me,
O! keep me firm and true,
Each day Thy grace attend me,
And every morning new:
Old sins and follies leaving,
New strength by Thee supplied,
New blessings still receiving,
I take Thee for my guide.

 

GERMAN

Durch Trauern und durch Plagen,
durch Noth, durch Angst und Pein,
durch Hoffnung und durch Klagen,
durch Sorgen, groß und klein,
bin ich, Gott Lob, gedrungen;
dies Jahr ist hingelegt
dir, Gott, sei Lob gesungen,
mein Herze wird erregt.

2. Der du mich hast erbauet,
in dir besteht mein Heil;
dir ist mein Glück vertrauet,
du bist und bleibst mein Theil.
Du hast mich wohl erhalten,
du bist mein fester Trost:
dich laß ich ferner walten,
wenn mich die Not anstoßt.

3. Mein Gott, o meine Liebe,
was du willst, will auch ich;
gib, daß ich nichts verübe,
was irgend wider dich.
Dir ist mein Will ergeben,
ja, er ist nicht mehr mein,
dieweil mein ganzes Leben
dein eigen wünscht zu sein.

4. Nach dir soll ich mich schicken,
und, Herr, ich wills auch thun.
Soll mich die Armuth drücken?
ich will dabei beruhn.
Soll mich Verfolgung plagen?
ja, Herr, befehle mir.
Soll ich Verachtung tragen?
ach, ich gehorch auch hier.

5. Soll ich verlassen sitzen?
mein Gott, dein Wille gilt.
Soll ich in Ängsten schwitzen?
mein Heiland, wie du willst.
Soll ich denn Krankheit leiden?
ich will gehorsam sein.
Soll ich von dannen scheiden?
Herr, dein Will ist auch mein.

6. Soll ich zum Himmel dringen?
gar gern, o Gott, mein Licht.
Soll mich die Höll verschlingen?
Ach, dieses willt du nicht.
Ich habe zwar verdienet
die rothe Höllenglut,
du aber bist versühnet
durch deines Sohnes Blut.

7. Heut ist das Jahr beschlossen,
Herr, deine Gnad sei heut
auf mich neu gegossen;
mein Herz werd auch erneut.
Leg ich die alten Sünden,
so werd ich, Gott, bei dir
auch neuen Segen finden;
dein Wort verspricht es mir.