Gott Vater, dir sei Preis (= Ehr sei Gott in der Höh)

Here is my translation of the doxological stanza, “Gott Vater, dir sei Preis” (Anon., 1657), in ELGB #426, also attached to “O Gott du frommer Gott,” the preceding hymn #425. The Buffalo Synod hymnal gives it the title “Doxology for singing in the previous hymn and also in other cases,” implying its usage with others in this meter, i.e., most notably, “Now thank we all our God.” Indeed, an early instance of this doxology (Goßlar Gsb 1682) is attached to “Nun danket alle Gott” with asterisk. In fact, it is originally 5th stanza of the Gloria in excelsis paraphrase, “Ehr sei Gott in der Höh,” an anonymous adaptation of Decius’s text to the meter of “O Gott du frommer Gott,” first appearing in the Hanover Gsb 1657, printed in Lüneburg. It received a proper melody by W. Weßnitzer in 1665. Peter Sohr’s Musicalischer Vorschmack (1683) gives that hymn a different proper melody, which he also included earlier in Praxis Pietatis Melica (1668) which he edited. However, the Gotha Gsb has it as the 9th stanza of Hermann’s hymn, and evidently comes to our hymnal from that tradition. For completeness’ sake, it seems appropriate to include here the German stanzas of the original hymn, though only the last is of concern for the Buffalo Synod hymnal.

 

PRAISE, God the Father, be
To Thee here and in heaven,
Lord Jesus, God the Son,
Praise e’er to Thee be given.
O God the Holy Ghost,
Praise sound forth unto Thee.
To Thee, O triune God,
Praise, laud, and glory be!

—

 

 

 

PRAISE be to God on high,
Thanks for His grace and favor,
For now no thing can harm
Our blessedness forever:
For now the Most High God
With good will to us bends,
With everlasting peace,
All conflict now He ends.

2 O Father, for Thy grace
Receive our due thanksgiving,
For from eternity
Thou reignest everliving,
Wholly without constraint,
Lord, is Thy wondrous powr!
What but Thy will decides
Must be the selfsame hour.

3 O Jesus Christ, the Son
Begotten of the Father,
Who hast atoned for sin,
Brought God and man together:
O Lamb of God, O Lord,
The God-Man, now give heed:
Have mercy, and receive
Our pray’r in time of need!

4 O precious Holy Ghost,
Thou Fount with comforts running,
Defend us mightily
From Satan’s craft and cunning.
Deliv’rance from all grief,
From pain and need provide,
For we are dearly bought
By Christ the Crucified.

5 Praise, God the Father, be
To Thee here and in heaven,
Lord Jesus, God the Son,
Praise e’er to Thee be given.
O God the Holy Ghost,
Praise sound forth unto Thee.
To Thee, O triune God,
Praise, laud, and glory be!

Translation © 2023 Matthew Carver.

GERMAN

Ehr sei Gott in der Höh,
und Dank für seine Gnade,
daß nun und nimmermehr
uns rühren kann kein Schade:
mit Wohlgefallen sich
der Höchste zu uns wend,
ohn Unterlaß ist Fried,
all Fehde hat ein End.

2 O Vater deiner Gnad
und Gütigkeit, wir danken,
daß du von Ewigkeit
regierst ohn alles Wanken:
ganz ungemessen ist,
Herr, deine Wundermacht,
sehr bald geschicht, was nur [sofort…]
dein Wille hat bedacht.

3 O Jesu Christe, Sohn
des Vaters eingeboren,
Versöhner derer, die
in Sünden ganz verloren:
Lamm Gottes, einger Herr,
o wahrer Mensch und Gott,
erbarme dich, nimm an,
die Bitt in unser Noth.

4 O werther heilger Geist,
du Tröster frommer Christen,
behüt uns kräftiglich,
fürs Satans Tück und Listen.
Errette uns auch sonst
aus Trübsal, Noth und Pein,
die wir durch Christi Tod
so theur erlöset sein.

5 Gott Vater, Dir sei Preis,
hier und im Himmel oben,
Gott Sohn, Herr Jesu Christ!
Dich will ich allzeit loben. [wir wollen dich stets…]
Gott heilger Geist! Dein Ruhm
erschall je mehr und mehr. [erschalle…]
O Herr, dreieinger Gott!
Dir sei Lob, Preis und Ehr.

Ehr sei Gott Vater allezeit (doxology stanza)

Here is my translation of the common doxological stanza, “Ehr sei Gott Vater allezeit,” in ELGB #401, originally appearing in the Erfurt Enchiridion as the concluding stanza of “Ach, Gott, vom Himmel sieh darein! The Buffalo Synod hymnal gives it the title and rubric “The Doxology to the hymns: Aus tiefer Noth… Ach Gott vom Himmel… Es spricht der Unweisen… Wo Gott der Herr… Nun freut euch lieben…, and others.” In other words, it is for any classic chorale in the meter 87.87.887. In ELGB #402–3, two more doxological stanzas of great age are given, which, however, are already found translated in Walther’s Hymnal, nos. 11–12. Nevertheless, I include two new, alternative translations here. The second in the Buffalo Synod hymnal is indicated to be sung with “An Wasserflüssen Babylon” (as also in WH 11), while the third is an alternative doxology for the bar meter 87.87.887.


TO God the Father glory be
And Christ His Son, our Savior,
And to the Spirit equally
On heaven’s throne forever,
As ’twas before the world began,
Is now, and ever shall remain.
Amen, we pray, so be it!

Translation © 2023 Matthew Carver.

GERMAN

Ehr sei Gott Vater allezeit,
auch Christo eingeboren,
und dem Tröster heiligem geist,
gar hoch ins Himmels-Throne,
wie es im Anfang und auch jetzt
gewesen ist, und bleibet stets
bis an der Welt End. Amen.

II.

To God all praise and majesty—
The Father, Son, and Spirit—
As ’twas, and is, and e’er shall be.
May we His grace inherit,
That in this gloomy vale of tears
Where worldly wickedness appears
We may avoid it ever,
And strive in newness now to live,
For which may God His mercy give.
Amen, through Christ our Savior.

Translation © 2011, 2023 Matthew Carver.

GERMAN

Ehr sei dem Vater und dem Sohn,
und auch dem heilgen Geiste,
als es im Anfang war und nun,
der uns sein Gnade leiste,
daß wir auf diesem Jammertha;
von Herzen scheuen überall
der Welt gottlofes Wesen,
und streben nach der neuen Art,
dazu der Mensch gebildet ward,
wer das begehrt, sprech: Amen!

III.

To God all praise and majesty—
The Father, Son, and Spirit—
As ’twas, and is, and e’er shall be.
May we His grace inherit,
To walk upon His righteous way,
That sin may not our soul dismay.
Amen, say all who wish it!

Translation © 2011, 2023 Matthew Carver.

GERMAN

Ehr sei dem Vater und dem Sohn,
und ach dem Heilgen Geiste,
als es im Anfang was und nun,
der uns sein Gnade leiste,
daß wir wandeln in seinem Pfad,
daß uns die Sünd der Seel nicht schad,
wer das begehrt sprech Amen.

Vor Gericht Herr Christe steh ich hie

Here is my translation of an additional 4th stanza for the hymn “Herzlich lieb hab ich dich, o Herr" (M. Schalling, 1563), which adds the ideas of repentance and resolve for new obedience. The anonymous stanza, according to Wackernagel (III, 789) is found appended to the hymn in the Görlitz Gesangbuch of 1611, p. 957. It is sometimes (as in the Wisconsin German hymnal, Ev.-Luth. Gesangbuch #351) ascribed to Johann Dilherr (1604–1669), who would have been quite young at its first appearance.

BEFORE Thy court, Lord, I appear,
And kneel to Thee in heart sincere,
And own no other savior;
My sins and my trespasses sore
To death condemn me evermore
And yet I will not waver.
Lord Jesus Christ, Thy blood alone
Doth wash my sins and all atone;
In true repentance and complete
I, trusting, fall down at Thy feet.
Lord Jesus Christ! my thanks to Thee (my thanks to Thee!)
I would do better; help Thou me!

Translation © 2017 Matthew Carver.

GERMAN

Vor Gricht, Herr Christe, steh ich hie,
zu dir beug ich mein Hertzen Knie,
vermag mir selbst nicht zu rathen.
Mein Sünd und grosse Missethat
mich ewig zum Todt verdammet hat,
ich wil drumb nicht verzagen:
Herr Jesu Christ, dein Blut allein
macht mich von allen Sünden rein,
in rechter wahrer Rew und Buss
gläub ich an dich, fall dir zu fuß.
Herr Jesu Christ, des danck ich dir,
ich will mich bessern, Herr, hilff mir!

Mein Trost und Hülf ist Gott allein

I interrupt my series on the hymns of David Spaiser to bring you my translation of the anonymous choral piece, which became a 1-stanza hymn of sorts: “Mein Trost und Hülf ist Gott allein,” first found in Balthasar Musculus, Viertzig schönen geistliche Gesenglein . . . (1597). It is a brief and heartfelt consolation in the face of adversity. The German is quoted, i.a., in Valerius Herberger, Magnalia Dei, Part 9, medit. XI.

MY HELP and stay is God alone, 

  From Him I’ll wander never. 

As His true servant I’ll be known 

  In life and death forever. 

And though the world with all its host 

Oppose me to the uttermost 

  Yet naught will move me from my God 

  While yet my tongue can speak a word. 

    World, what of thee?

    God shieldeth me,

  On Him my trust is founded.

Translation © 2012 Matthew Carver.

GERMAN

Mein Trost und Hülf ist Gott allein,

  ich hab mich ihm ergeben.

Ich bin und bleib der Diener sein

  im Tod und auch im Leben.

Und wenn mir gleich zuwider wär

die ganze Welt mit ihrem Heer,

  von Gott ich doch will lassen nicht,

  dieweili mein Zung ein Wörtlein spricht.

    Welt, wie du willt,

    Gott ist mein Schild:
  Auf ihn steht mein Vertrauen.