Lord Jesus Christ, Your Precious Blood

What: This hymn is pretty much your standard Lutheran Lenten hymn. The writer called it a "Meditation on the Precious Blood of Jesus Christ."
Who: Johann Olearius was a Lutheran hymnologist who lived in the 1600's. He is known for a whole lot of hymns, including "Comfort, Comfort, Ye My People."
Changes: I've combined, updated, and altered the translations of C.H.L. Schuette of the old Ohio Synod and A.T. Russell of the Church of England.
Tune: The meter is LM. The most common tune is "Renew Me, O Eternal Light," LSB 704, but it does have a proper tune, given here.

Lord Jesus Christ, Your precious blood

Is to my soul the highest good:

It gives my sins the perfect cure,

Renews my life, and makes me pure.

Your blood, my spotless glorious dress,

Your innocence, my righteousness:

Before my God I pardoned stand,

And enter, crowned, the heav'nly land.

Lord Jesus Christ, God's only Son,

My Comfort, Health, and Mercy-Throne,

Your precious blood, Your quick'ning pow'r

Renews my spirit ev'ry hour.

Lord, keep me, in my final breath,

From fearing Satan, hell, or death.

But let this thought relieve my soul:

Your blood has made me pure and whole!

Herr Jesu Christ, dein theures Blut
J. Olearius
Tr. comp.

Heart to Heart in Christ United

What: The hymn below is of Moravian origin, and was once popular for weddings. Most translations (and there are quite a few) make this an odd thing, since the original hymn was talking about unity in the church, although unity in wedlock is not a great stretch. So, I've adapted the text for a wedding context.
Who: This was written by the famous Pietist Moravian Preacher, Count Nicolaus von Zinzendorf, known to most hymn lovers for Jesus, Thy Blood and Righteousness.
Changes: I've taken the most wedlock-appropriate parts of different translations, altered pronouns where needed, updated the language, and smoothened it all out.
Tune: The tune is O du liebe meiner liebe, LSB 423.

Heart to Heart in Christ united,

And by Him created new;

By His love divine excited,

Each of you, as He did do.

So that nothing whatsoever

Can relax this blessed tie,

In Your love, most gracious Savior,

Grant them both stability.

Help them, that with Your direction,

"Love each other" they comply,

Aiming with unfeigned affection

Your love to exemplify.

Let their mutual love be glowing,

So that others plainly see

That they both in You are growing

As one branch eternally.

Oh, that they, Your steps to follow,

Midst affliction, scorn, and spite,

And Your sacred name to hallow,

Did each other more excite!

Help them stir up one another,

Jesus, to keep You in view,

Thus encouraging each other,

Your example to pursue.

Thus these souls here joined together

Will, according to Your prayer,

Be fulfilled by Your dear Father,

And His kind protection share.

Lord, as You're with Him united,

Grant them likewise one to be,

And, by genuine love excited, 

Serve each other willingly.

Herz und Herz vereint zusammen

Count Nicolaus von Zinzendorf

Adapt. MDS

In Christ Are Joy and Gladness

What: I recently bought "Hymns and Spiritual Songs from the North: Nordic Christians Sing Their Faith," a hymnal edited by Gracia Grindal. She gathers hymns from the north lands and either translates them, edits translations of them, or slightly alters translations of them, the latest being what I assume she did with this hymn. It confesses that although we have trials in this world, we also have Christ, who is far better.
Who: Johan Nordahl Brun (1745-1816) was a Norwegian Lutheran bishop, who said of his hymns, "Our divine worship is that garden from which I have gathered my flowers.” (Handbook to the Lutheran Hymnal). He is better known for his hymn, How Blest Are They Who Hear God's Word, TLH 48.
Changes: In her book, Grindal has a few alterations to Smeby's original translation, and I have made a few more changes of my own, although I have also undone a couple of her changes.
The main thing I did was change the title from "In Heav'n Is Joy and Gladness," since I thought it to be a little too sentimental and grammatically incorrect.
Tune: The meter is 76 76 D. The Lutheran Hymnary pairs it with an odd tune by Goudimel, Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary pairs it with HERZLICH TUTH MICH VERLANGEN (O Sacred Head, Now Wounded), and Grindal pairs it with an easily learned Norwegian folk tune, which would my preference. For those without this book, however, I suggest pairing it with IST GOTT FUR MICH, LSB 724 (If God Himself Be for Me), since the text deals with similar themes.

In Christ are joy and gladness,

Yet while I linger here

I must endure great hardships

And suffer through each tear.

For though there are great trials

That haunt the Savior's bride,

I will live through this darkness,

For with me Christ abides.

Though some prefer this desert

And find their joy on earth.

I'll gladly bear my sorrow

And sow in bitter tears.

Then I will reap in gladness

And eye the citadel,

Where, free from care and sorrow,

Forever I shall dwell.

I shall soon see my Jesus,

My Hope, my Joy, my Stay.

The crosses I must suffer

He soon will take away.

Then nothing more shall grieve me,

And no adversity

Shall take away my gladness

When Jesus' face I see.

Hos Gud er evig glæde

J.H. Brun

Tr. O.H. Smeby, alt.

Jesus, Jesus, Only Jesus

What: This hymn appears in TLH 343, praying that Jesus will be done in all things.
Who: Ludämiliä Elisabeth Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt was a Lutheran hymn-writer in the 1600's. Although she wrote 206 hymns, none are in LSB. Besides Crull's translation of this hymn, Matthew Carver's edition of Walther's Hymnal includes two more, all of which "show her to have been of a deeply pious nature, and of intense love to Jesus." (Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology)
Changes: I have compiled a translation from a few different sources, including Crull's from TLH, updating the language, of course.
Note: I have restored the original German's acrostic J-E-S-U-S.
Tune: TLH assigns it its own tune, but it has also been associated with REGENT SQUARE, LSB 924, with the penultimate phrase slightly altered.

Jesus, Jesus, only Jesus

Can my heartfelt longing still.

Without Him my soul is lonely;

He alone shall rule my will.

For my heart prays this alone:

Jesus, let Your will be done.

Ever shall I live for Jesus,

Him alone I wish to see.

I am giving unto Jesus

What in love He gave to me.

Jesus' blood my guilt atones.

Jesus, let Your will be done.

Should a thing become my treasure,

Howsoever dear it be,

If it does not give You pleasure,

Take it, Jesus, hastily;

Only You shall fill the throne.

Jesus, let Your will be done.

Unto me bestow Your favor,

So that I Your wish fulfill.

In me, thru me, with me ever,

Blessed Jesus, do Your will.

Call me when my time has come.

Jesus, let Your will be done.

Savior, be to You uplifted

Songs that praise Your wondrous love.

May my thankful heart be gifted

With sweet music from above.

Jesus, be my joy alone.

Jesus, let Your will be done.

Jesus, Jesus, nicht als Jesus

Ludämiliä Elisabeth Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt

Tr. comp.

I Die, but What Is Death to Me?

What: This hymn, sung by one dying, beautifully confesses the biblical understanding of death.
Who: The hymn is anonymous, but likely written by the Lutheran, Rev. John C. Kunze. It is found in A Hymnal and Prayer-Book for the Use of Such Congregations as Use the English Language, 1795.
Changes: I made one or two tweaks for flow.
Note: 'Members' means 'limbs' or 'body parts.' Breaker's trumpet is a twofold reference to Micah 2:13 and I Corinthians 15:52.
Tune: I suggest HAMBURG, LSB 425.

I die, but what is death to me?

Triumphant is my surety.

The grave shall keep the dross of sin,

And sinless I shall rise again.

My Savior in the day of grief

Gained me this Sabbath of relief,

To wait for what no eyes have seen:

The glorious renovated scene.

The grave is the sanctuary

That stops the restless enemy.

Sleep, sleep, O members, with good grace:

Your Head has sanctified the place.

Soon will the Breaker's trumpet sound,

And ye shall leave this hiding ground,

To grace in ropes of life and flame

The marriage of the slaughtered Lamb.

John C. Kunze?, alt

O Thou Joy-Prolific!

What: The German carol "O du fröhliche" (Oh, How Joyfully), by Johann D. Falk, is one of those carols that everyone has heard, but can't seem to remember the words to. Maybe that's because of translations like this one. This translation is a great example of trying too hard.
Who: Emanuel Cronenwett translated this in 1878 and published it in his book, "Hymns and Poems."
Changes: None
Tune: Traditional

O Thou joy-prolific!

O thou beatific!

Christ-night halo amid earth's gloom!

Lost world in Eden fell,

Born is Immanuel!

Joy! Yea, joy to thee, O Christendom.

O thou heav'nly gleaming!

Grace and gladness beaming

Christ-night halo amid earth's gloom!

God's Son is here from heav'n,

Grace, peace to us is giv'n:

Joy! Yea, joy to thee, O Christendom.

O thou heart-elating!

O thou consecrating

Christ-night halo amid earth's gloom!

Seraphs, Lord adore Thee,

Laud Thy grace and glory!

Joy! Yea, joy to thee, O Christendom.

O du fröhliche
Johann D Falk
Tr. Emanuel Cronenwett

Merciful and Wondrous Throne

What: Actually, this hymn has also been wonderfully translated by Aaron Jensen. I have taken the liberty of borrowing his title, since Cronenwett's is, well, not as good (Grace O'erflowing Wonder-Throne).
Who: Johann Olearius (1611-1684) was a Lutheran pastor who wrote a number of hymns, including "Comfort, Comfort All My People."
Note: Cronenwett added the last line to each stanza so as to fill out the meter to 77 77 D.
Tune: WINDSOR, LSB 394.

Merciful and wondrous Throne,

Son of God and Mary’s Son,

God and man, an infant small

Find we cradled in a stall,

Sov'reign from eternity

Great in might and majesty,

Unto Thee bows Christendom;

Make our hearts Thee welcome home.

Thou art rich, yet needy now

Soul and body dost endow;

Thou, great God, become forlorn

Yet put death and hell to scorn.

To the world grows manifest

E'en to those who love Thee least:

Wonderful Thy majesty,

Peerless Thy humility.

Lord, Thy grace and goodness true

Daily unto us renew;

O my God, forsake me not

When dire need and death's my lot.

Grant that after life's brief day,

I Thy wondrous glory may

In eternity adore

And Thy love praise evermore.

Wunderbarer Gnadenthron
Johann Olearius
Tr. E. Cronenwett, alt.