Jesus! Shall Our Motto Be

Who: This New Year's hymn was written by Benjamin Schmolke, the same writer who penned "Open Now Thy Gates of Beauty" and "Dearest Jesus We are Here." Schmolck was called the "second (Paul) Gerhardt," but no one is able to combine such beautiful words with such beautiful theology, and that includes Schmolke.
Note: Today is New Year's Day on the secular calendar and Nameday (Circumcision and Name of Jesus) on the Church Calendar, and Schmolck blends the two themes nicely.
Changes: I've translated the last verse anew, since Cronenwett's translation was both loose and outdated.
Tune: The meter is 78 78 77 and the traditional tune is MEINEN JESUM LASS' ICH NICHT (LSB 609).

Jesus! Shall our slogan be,

As the New Year dawns upon us;

Jesus' Name alone will we

As our standard bear before us;

In His gracious realm we stay

As He guides us on His way.

Jesus' Name and Jesus' Word

Shall resound in fullest measure

In our sanctuary heard.

May we tread His courts with pleasure,

So our hearts, through grace anew,

Prove an holy temple too.

So we want to always tread,

And in Jesus' Name confide us;

While this Star guides overhead,

Nothing evil can betide us;

In its light of grace and love

Blessings come from heav'n above.

Jesus' Name will lighten pain,

And in all our ills relieve us,

Losses will be turned to gain,

And to blessings what seem grievous;

Jesus' Name be Sun and Shield,

Here must all our sorrows yield.

Jesus gives our folk His grace,

To our land a mark of kindness.

He, the best part of this place,

Rids our heart of all its blindness.

Jesus is our staff and stay,

He our slogan for alway.

Jesus soll die Losung sein
Benjamin Schmolke
st. 1-4 tr. Emanuel Cronenwett, alt.
st. 5 tr. MDS