Psalm 51

Guilt: the tool of a loving Father, and the haunt of children in the night. I know that I- like most folks- struggle with guilt. I'm either feeling guilty about something I've recently said or done, or I'm feeling guilty for something I've done years ago. What's one to do with all this guilt?
King David was feeling this way when the Holy Spirit breathed in him the words below. I've chosen to give the New English Bible translation, since I think it has the best poetry, even though I have made changes here and there. If you'd prefer an older translation, here is a good one. And if you'd prefer newer language, here's another good one.

Be gracious to me, O God, in Thy true love;

in the fullness of Thy mercy blot out my misdeeds.

Wash away all my guilt

and cleanse me from my sin.

For well I know my misdeeds,

and my sins are with me all day long.

Against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned

and done what displeases Thee,

so that Thou canst be proved right in thy charge

and just in passing sentence.

In iniquity I was born

and my mother conceived me in sin;

yet, though Thou hast hidden the truth in darkness,

through this mystery Thou dost teach me wisdom.

Take hyssop and sprinkle me, that I be clean;

Wash me, so I become whiter than snow;

Oh, let me hear the sounds of gladness,

let the bones which Thou hast broken dance for joy.

Turn away Thy face from my sins

and blot out all my guilt.

Create a pure heart in me, O God,

and give me a new and steadfast spirit;

do not drive me from Thy presence

or take Thine Holy Spirit from me;

Revive in me the joy of Thy deliverance

and grant me a willing spirit to uphold me.

I will teach transgressors the ways that lead to Thee,

and sinners shall return to Thee again.

O LORD God, my deliverer, save me from bloodshed,

and I will sing the praises of thy justice.

Open my lips, O Lord,

so my mouth can proclaim Thy praise.

Thou hast no delight in sacrifice;

if I brought Thee an offering, Thou wouldst not accept it.

My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit;

a wounded heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise.

Let it be Thy pleasure to do good to Zion,

to build anew the walls of Jerusalem.

Then only shalt Thou delight in the appointed sacrifices;

then shall young bulls be offered on Thine altar.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son;

as it was in the beginning, is now, and always will be. Amen!

חָנֵּ֣נִי אֱלֹהִ֣ים כְּחַסְדֶּ֑ךָ
Holy Spirit / King David
tr. NEB, alt. MDS

From Deep, O Lord, I Call on Thee (Psalm 130)

Who: This is Martin Luther's great hymnification of Psalm 130, as translated by J. Wedderburn.
Note: This has been translated many times, including by Catherine Winkworth, a version of which is found in LSB 607.
The last two stanzas were melded into one.
Changes: I have altered the translation both for rhymes and meter where possible and left the rest.
Tune: I'm not sure what tune the Wedderburns used, but Luther's AUS TIEFER NOTH is perfect.

From deep, O Lord, I call on Thee,

Lord, hear my invocation,

Oh let Thine ears incline to me

And hear my lamentation:

For if Thou wouldst our sin impute

To us, O Lord, that we commit,

Who would stand Thy accusation?

But Thou art merciful and kind,

And Thou hast promis'd in Thy Writ,

"Those who repent with heart and mind,

Of all their sin to make them quit."

Though I be full of sinfulness,

Yet Thou art full of faithfulness,

And true Thy promise, and perfect.

My hope is steadfast in the Lord,

My soul shall ever on Him trust,

And my belief is in Thy Word,

And all Thy vows from most to least.

My soul on God waits and is bent,

As watchmen would the night were went,

Biding the day to take their rest.

Israel, in God put thy belief,

For He is full of gentleness,

And freedom, goodness, and relief

To Israel from all their distress.

He shall deliver Israel,

And all their sinning shall expell

And clothe them with His righteousness.

Aus Tiefer Noth Schrei ich zu Dir
Martin Luther
tr. John Wedderburn, alt. MDS

When Sore My Sins Distress Me

Who: Justus Genesius was a 17th century Lutheran theologian who, along with David Denicke, put out an hymnal. This hymn is translated by Emanuel Cronenwett, found in his "Hymns and Poems."
Note: This hymn has already been translated by Catherine Winkworth and an edited version of verses 1-4 can be found in TLH (152) and the rest in the Handbook (scroll down for the appropriate text). See also ELH 276 for the TLH edition.
This might be the only hymn to have the word 'barter.'
Lastly, I've never heard Jesus referred to as a martyr, although I guess He fulfills the meaning.
Changes: I made a few noticeless changes for clarity and one change to better match the meter.
Tune: The meter is 76 76 876 and the appointed tune is HERR CHRIST, DER EINIG GOTTES SOHN, LSB 402.

When sore my sins distress me,

O Christ, Thou Crucified!

Then let this comfort bless me,

That Thou for me hast died,

And on the agonizing tree

Hast borne the heavy burden

Of my iniquity.

O strange unending barter

That grace here makes to save;

The Lord expires as Martyr:

The Master for the slave!

Th'eternal God Himself doth give,

And dies for His lost creatures,

And bids us culprits live.

What harm can then now do me

My sins are numberless,

Since God with grace doth see me?

My debt and its distress

By Jesus' blood is wiped away,

So I no more need tremble

At hell and its dismay.

Hence with full heart I bless Thee,

Again and yet again,

With thankful praise confess Thee,

My Savior for Thy pain.

Thy cry of agonized distress,

Thy sacrificial dying,

Thy love and faithfulness.

Lord, let Thy Passion move me

To shun each lep'rous stain,

And, oh! Thy death reprove me

When prone to sin again,

So I will ne'er unmindful be

Of what great price it cost Thee,

Dear Lord, to ransom me.

My cross and tribulation

And be it scoff and scorn,

Help, so with resignation

By me it will be borne;

Let me this world deny and flee,

And follow the example

Which Thou hast set for me.

Grant me to do to others

As Thou hast done to me,

And love my fellow-brothers

And serve all willingly,

Void of pretense and self-design,

Impelled in all my actions

By motives such as Thine.

Thy wounds be my assurance

In my last hour, I pray;

And since on this securance

I ground mine only stay,

Believe to Thy merits cleave,

Thy grace, Lord, will accept me

And bid me with Thee live.

Wenn meine Sünd mich kränken
Justus Genesius
tr. E. Cronenwett, alt.

How Can It Be, My Highest Light

Who: This is another Paul Gerhardt hymn. While it's not specifically an Ash Wednesday hymn, it could fit because of verse 2. Sorry it's a day late.
Note: 'Knight' in verse 5 simply means 'servant;' I used this because the rhyme allowed me to be more faithful to Gerhardt's original. "Glor'" in stanza 8 is short for 'glory,' an abbreviation which I discovered in an earlier post.
Changes: Except for the last stanza, this hymn is John Kelly's translation, edited to be more faithful to Gerhardt's original and more up-to-date in its wording. As always, suggestions and critiques are greatly appreciated.
Tune: The meter is 887 887 and the standard melody is KOMMT HER ZU MIR, LSB 666 and given below.

How can it be, my highest Light,

That when before Your face so bright

All things must pale and vanish,

That my poor feeble flesh and blood

Can call up such a hearty mood

To meet You, and fear banish?

What am I more than dust and ash?

What is my flesh but leaves and grass?

What good the life I’m living?

What can I with my utmost pow’r?

What have I, Lord! from hour to hour

But what to me You’ve given?

I am a poor and feeble worm,

A straw, which e’en a little storm

Could drive away before it.

If You Your hand, which all things stays,

Would on me e’er so lightly lay,

I’d not know how t‘endure it.

Lord, I am nothing, You are Who

Is all, and all belongs to You;

In You I have my being.

Where with Your hand You frighten me

And do not deck with Your mercy

There will I have no healing.

You are the Truth; and I’m unright;

You’re holy; I’m an evil knight-

This thought should truly shame me,

That I in such an evil stand,

Should from Your mild, paternal hand,

Receive the goods it gave me.

Nothing but evil have I done

Against You, Lord, from my youth on,

In sin I was begotten;

And had You not in faithfulness

Unlocked my chains of sinfulness

I would be lost, forgotten.

So, boasting, go away from me!

To You, Lord, may all glory be,

I give to You Your earning.

Oh grant that while I live below

My spirit and what from it flows,

To You be always turning.

If I have ever done aright

It wasn't me: I have no might,

From You it had its springing.

To You be thanks and worth and glor’,

My Healer, I’ll forevermore

Your laud and praise be singing.

Wie ist es möglich, höchstes Licht
Paul Gerhardt
st. 1-7 tr. John Kelly, ed. MDS
st. 8 tr. MDS

The Poetry and Music of Jan Kilian

Jan Kilian was the leader of the group of Wendish Lutherans who left Germany for Texas back in the 1800's. He wrote a bunch of hymns and hymn-tunes for his congregants and now my Alma Mater, Concordia University Texas, has published them in English for the very first time. Almost every tune is easily sung and the translations are good, overall. I highly recommend it.

Since I'm pretty sure copyright forbids me to publish these hymns online, I'll only post verses of various hymns as a teaser/advertisement. For those interested, the book can be found here and purchased here.

Under "A Believer's Desire:"

"God's elect shall live by faith alone,"

Yet I struggle mightily.

Spirit, help me put that armor on

That will save and strengthen me.

Under "Awakening to Song:"

Oh, praise the Lord with joyful songs;

Sing, church of Jesus Christ.

You bride of love, the chosen one

For whom Christ paid the price.

His gift has made us rich again,

Tho we were worthless in our sin.

Christ's love has set us free!

Sing, people, thankfully.

Under "Journey through the Sea of Life:"

From the heavens descends our Deliverer:

Thru the clouds comes our conquering Lord.

As the God of creation, He watches us;

Cruel waves overtake us no more.

He commands and the seas lose their amplitude;

He directs and the storms cease to blow.

When God speaks, when we hear the incarnate Word,

Waves subside, their fierce surging is drowned.

Under "Hope:"

Here we behold the Christ revealed to us

In sacraments and written Word;

There we shall stand and see Him face-to-face

As His eternal voice is heard.

Under "God the Mighty Lord:"

For protection, Mighty God,

Servants now are calling:

Be our rock and hiding place;

Skies around are falling.

Hear the crowds of Zion praise

Your power, doom forestalling.

Under "Reformation:"

Scripture's power seemed to fade,

All hope and comfort gone.

Our deeds as saving hope were raised

Instead of God's own Son.

The lies of men drowned human lays;

The faithful, one true sigh could raise:

Send Zion's help, O Master.

Under "At the Grave of a Dear Son:"

Sleep well now, my dear little son,

Until the break of dawn;

Under the blanket that covers you now

There are now worries;

Until Jesus will call you again

You can rest in the grave,

Sleep well, sleep!

Under "Members of Christ's Body:"

With that new dawn new earth, new heavens

Shall invite you with their light;

From the vale of tears and sorrow

You're allowed to make your flight.

Bride of Jesus, you are chosen

To inhabit mansions bright

Where all things are set aright.