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.

I Come from Heaven High to Tell

What: This hymn is another Wedderburn translation, this time their version of "From Heaven Above."
Who: The Wedderburns were a family of Scottish Reformers.
Changes: I've edited this heavily. Since verse 5 just couldn't be updated or metered without major trauma, I have left it out. Because of the Scottish dialect, it's actually easier to use the 'you' form than the 'thou' form.
Note: A 'Balulalow' is an old word meaning 'cradle song' or 'lullaby.' 'Celsitude' apparently means 'heavenly-ness.' 'Swithe' means 'strong' or 'sure.'
Tune: The traditional Lutheran tune is VOM HIMMEL HOCH, LSB 358; this is the traditional Scottish tune.

1. I come from heaven high to tell

The gladdest news that e'er befell:

To you these tidings true I bring,

And I will of them say and sing.

2. This day to you is born a Child,

Of Mary meak and virgin mild;

This blessed boy, so sweet and kind

Shall give you joy of heart and mind.

3. It is the Lord Christ, God and man,

He will do for you what He can;

He will Himself your Saviour be

From sin and hell, to make you free.

4. He is our only Salvation

From everlasting damnation,

That you may reign in joy and bliss,

Forever more in heav'n with His.

6. Let us rejoice, now, and be blithe

And with the shepherds go full swithe,

See what God of His grace has done

Thru Christ to bring us to His throne.

7. My soul and life, stand up and see

What lies now in a crib of tree;

What babe is that so good and fair?

It is the Christ, God's Son and Heir.

8. Now welcome, gracious God of might,

To sinners poor and vile, unright;

You come to save us from distress-

How can we thank Your gentleness?

9. O God, Who made the creatures all,

How have You now become so small,

That on the hay and straw You'd lie,

Among the oxen in a sty.

10. And were the world ten times as wide

With gold and stones on every side,

Unworthy yet it'd to You it'd be,

Below Your feet a stool to be.

11. Your kingly silk and royal rose
Are hay and simple swaddling clothes,
Wherein, O glory's greatest King,
As You in heav'n wear in your reign.

12. You took afflictions temporal

To make me rich perpetual;

For all the worldly wealth and good

Cannot enrich Your celsitude.

13. O, my dear Heart, young Jesus sweet,

Prepare Your bed in my spirit,

And I shall rock You in my heart,

And never more from You depart.

14. But I shall praise You evermore,

With carols sweet unto Your glor',

The knees of my heart shall I bow,

And sing that old Balulalow.

15. Glory to God eternally,

Who gave His only Son for me!

The angels sing for all to hear,

The gracious gift of this new year.

Vom Himmel hoch
Martin Luther,
Tr. J. Wedderburns, ed. MDS

Rejoice! Again, Rejoice!

What: I wrote this yesterday evening while at once bored with life and excited about the day's Scripture readings. The first stanza is a paraphrase of the Epistle reading, the next of the Old Testament reading, the third and fourth of the Gospel reading, and the fifth verse is sort of a wrap-up, highlighting the underlying theme of the readings; it is based in part on today's sermon at my vicarage congregation.
Note: I know this is your standard, lame-paraphrase hymn. Still, I think this is a good exercise for me. As always, suggestions appreciated.
Tune: The meter is SM and I wrote this with FESTAL SONG in mind, only to realize this tune is only found in LW 195, although the ELW (the ELCA's new hymnal) has it too, ELW 314.

Rejoice! Again, rejoice!

Let gentleness be known.

In bids and prayers lift up your voice

To greet the coming Son.

Sing, Zion; Israel, shout!

Rejoice, lift up your heart:

The Lord has cleared your rivals out;

From you He will not part.

The followers of John

Besought the Lord for him,

"Are You the One who is to come,

Or shall we look again?"

Christ answered them, "Tell John

What you have seen and heard:

Blind see, lame walk, the dead live on,

Poor hear the Gospel Word."

Rejoice! Again, rejoice!

Though doubt may fill your heart,

Still cling to Jesus' living Voice:

From you He will not part.

MDS, 2012

Repent, the Reign of Heaven Nears

What: This Advent hymn brings to modern ears the message of John the Baptist: repent. It might be interesting to compare this Lutheran take with Charles Coffin's more familiar "On Jordan's Bank the Baptist's Cry."

Who: This is an original by Anna Hoppe. She was a WELS hymnwriter from the early 20th Century. It is a shame that only one of her hymns is found in LSB (841).

Changes: I've updated the text a little, and tried to smoothen it out.

Note: A 'behest' is an "authoritative request;" it can also mean 'promise.'

Tune: The meter is LM, and Anna Hoppe recommends HERR JESU CHRIST, MEINS LEBENS LICHT LSB 704, but ERHALT UNS HERR, LSB 908.

"Repent, the Reign of heaven nears!"

Proclaims God's prophet to our ears.

O sinners lost by Adam's fall,

Will you not listen to the call?

Repent, believe the gracious call;
Receive the pardon He gives all.

The Prince of Life, the Word-Made-Flesh

Can give you life and holiness.

Divine Redeemer, wondrous King,

Repentant hearts to You we bring.

Your holy blood was shed for us;

Create again in us clean hearts.

Drawn by Your Spirit, thru Your Word,

Your invitation we have heard.

In answer to Your sweet behest

We come to You, dear Christ, for rest.

Your pardon- full, complete, and free-
Removes sins's deadly penalty.
Humanity is now restored;
You have redeemed us, dearest Lord!

Let us forever bless Your Name,
On earth to all confess the same,
Till by Your grace, thru faith in You
The gates of paradise we view.

Anna Hoppe, alt.

A Christmas Agnus Dei

What: For special services, such as Christmas, many congregations enjoy singing the words of the liturgy to familiar tunes associated with the particular holiday. This year, I made one up myself, for the Agnus Dei. I based the text on a translation of the German Agnus Dei hymn found in the ELHal of 1880, which reads "Lamb of God, most holy...," altho the words could just have easily followed the Jacobi translation, reading "Lamb of God, our Savior...." While the final line has odd accents if sung to the Praetorius setting, it is taken from the refrain for "A Great and Mighty Wonder," LSB 383.

Who: me? Couldn't be. Then who?

Tune: The tune is "Lo, How a Rose," LSB 359. It's three repetitions (well, two plus the first) wed perfectly with the three-fold address, "Lamb of God." And the left hand in Praetorius' setting paints an appropriate picture for "away."

O Lamb of God most holy,

Have mercy upon us!

O Lamb of God most holy,

Have mercy upon us

And take our sin away!

O Lamb of God most holy,

Grant peace to all the earth!

Traditional, adapt. MDS

Be Blithe, All Christian Men, and Sing

What: Luther said that he had tried again and again, but could not write good treatise on justification. And then it came to him: what better way to express the peace and joy of being declared right with God (Romans 5) than to sing? The more well-known translation is by Richard Massie, "Dear Christians, One and All, Rejoice," LSB 556.

Who: This is another translation by the Reformation era Scotsmen, the Wedderburns.

Changes: I have heavily edited this translation.

Note: "Esay" is the old English version of Isaiah (much like Jeremy is from Jeremiah). Also, the meter is slightly different, so you have to put a syllable for every note of the tune (you'll see what I mean, don't worry).

Tune: The meter is technically 88 88 888, but it can still be sung to NUN FREUT EUCH, LSB 556.

Be blithe, all Christian men, and sing;

Dance and make mirth with all your might.

Christ has brought us great comforting;

Wherefore we may rejoice of right.

A work to wonder what is wrought:

Christ with His blood has us dear bought

And for our sake was made to die.

For with the Fiend and doleful death,

With hell and sin I was forlorn,

The son of ire_ at God's feet;

Conceived, I was, in sin, and born;

I grew up more and more therein

And daily added sin to sin,

Despair was e'er before me.

Where I could not the Law fulfill,

My doings made me no supply;

So blind and weak was my "free" will,

That it did hate all verity.

My conscience cast me into care,

The devil drove me to despair,

And hell was e'er before my eye.

God had great pity on my woe,

Above all measure showed me grace,

When I was yet His cruel foe,

Yet He would cure my careful case;

His love to me He did convert,

From the most deepest of His heart,

Which cost Him dear, to make my peace.

To His beloved Son He said,

"The time of mercy now draws near,

To save man and the fiend invade.

Therefore My heart's own Son so dear:

Go fetch them from the devil's feed,

Tho man o'erthrow sin, hell, and death,

And man restore to health and fear."

The Son His Father did obey,

And came down to the earth to me;

Born of a maid, as writes Esay,

My kind, sweet brother for to be.

He took on Him my nature vile,

And did His might for to exile,

Satan and all his subtlety.

He said, "Thou shalt have victory,

If thou alone on Me depend.

For I will give Myself for thee,

Thy careful quarrel to defend.

For I am thine and Mine thou art,

And of my fame thou shalt have part,

And reign with Me without end.

"Though man shed out My blessed blood,

And also reave My life from Me,

I bear this only for thy good:

Believe that firm and steadfastly.

For my death shall thy death devour,

That sin shall thee condemn no more:

This way, man, shalt thou savéd be.

Thus from this present life I fare,

To My Father celestial,

Thy Mediator to be there,

And send thee My Spirit I shall,

To give thee great consolation,

For all thy sore tribulation,

The truth He shall teach to you all.

My doing, teaching, more and less,

That teach and do unfeignédly,

For this doth God's dear church increase,

And His great name doth magnify.

Beware of men and their command,

Which Me and My Word do gainstand,

My testament I leave to thee.

Nun freut euch, Christen

Martin Luther

Tr. Wedderburn, ed. MDS

All People Who, Thru Jesus' Blood

What: This hymn simply answers the question, "What does 'the righteous/just shall live by faith' mean?" It is found in A Hymn and Prayer-Book of 1795.

Who: This hymn is anonymous, but was likely written by John. C. Kunze.

Changes: I made this hymn inclusive of all people by standard 21st century English usage.

Tune: The meter is LM, and AHPB suggests NACH DIR, O HERR, VERLANGET MICH, but TALLIS CANON would work fine.

All people who, thru Jesus' blood,

Are justified before their God

From condemnation are set free,

Enjoy the Gospel liberty.

By faith they live and walk and move,

By faith they serve and humbly love

Their God, and still with fervent mind

By faith they serve all humankind.

This happy state they cannot claim

From nature, nor in their own name;

The Law doth not this bliss impart,

But Christ conveys it to their hearts.

The justified in peace shall live

When all their heart to God they give;

Their fellowship is now begun

Both with the Father and the Son.

But soon the angel's trump will sound;

The justified with glory crowned

Shall from their dusty graves arise

And life eternal realize.

John C. Kunze?, alt.

O Jesus Christ, True Light of God

What: This hymn is, I think, an translation by a Reverend John C. Kunze and is found in the very first English Lutheran hymnal, published in 1795 in New York. The full title of the book is "A Hymn and Prayer-Book for the Use of Such Lutheran Churches as Use the English Language." The book is quite a gem for a few reasons, including this hymn.
The translation in common use today is O Christ, Our True and Only Light.
Who: Johann Heermann was a great Lutheran hymnwriter in the 1600's. His best-known hymn is "Ah, Dearest Jesus, What Law Hast Thou Broken?"
Changes: I only changed "dumb" to "mute."
Tune: the proper tune is O JESU CHRISTE, WAHRES LICHT, LSB 839.

O Jesus Christ, true light of God,

Enlighten such as know Thee not

And bring them unto Thy sheepfold,

Thereby to save their precious soul.

Replenish with Thy ray of grace

The wandering erroneous race

And such who're tempted secretly

To b'lieve that which is treachery.

And what else has eloped from Thee,

That seek with grace and constancy.

All wounded consciences so heal

That they show but for heav'n their zeal.

To all deaf grant an open ear;

The mute an utt'rance without fear;

Freedom to such who would confess

Their faith concerning righteousness.

Beguiléd souls do undeceive;

Bring all back who mean Thee to leave;

Them who are scattered congregate;

Convince those in a doubtful state.

Then, Lord, due praises shall be giv'n,

On earth below, above in heav'n,

By all of Thy redeeméd race,

To Thee for all Thy love and grace.

O Jesu Christe, wahres Licht
Johann Heermann
Tr. John C. Kunze, alt.

To Your Temple, Lord, Draw Near

What: This hymn, redone by yours truly, is based on the events of the Divine Service, from the entrance, to the invocation, to the Scripture readings, to the sermon, to the Creed, to the prayers, to the Lord's Supper, to the exit.
Who: The original was written by the Moravian hymnwriter, James Montgomery.
Changes: Many hymnals have worked to make the original, "To Thy Temple I Repair," sound more natural and have sounder theology. The version here is a compilation of those changes, with a few tweaks of my own. The seventh stanza is mine.
Note: I did not know what to do about the fourth line of stanza one. I wanted to say "Here we receive our Savior's grace," but couldn't fit it in. 'Get,' 'take,' and 'here we hear' did not seem appropriate.
Tune: The meter is 77 77 and the traditional tune is GOTT SEI DANK, LSB 830.

To Your temple, Lord, draw near;

We have come to meet You here.

This earth has no better place:

Here we taste our Savior's grace.

We through Him are reconciled,

We through Him became Your child.

Abba, Father, grant us grace

In Your courts to seek Your face.

While we hearken to Your Law,

Fill our souls with humble awe

Till Your Gospel brings to us

Life and light and lordliness.

While Your prophet here proclaims

Peace and pardon in Your Name,

Thru his voice, by faith may we

Hear You speaking lovingly.

While Your glorious praise is sung,

Touch our lips, unloose our tung

So our gladsome souls may bless

Christ the Lord, our Righteousness.

While the prayers of saints ascend,

God of love, to them attend.

Hear us, for Your Spirit pleads;

Hear, for Jesus intercedes.

Jesus, Human yet Divine,

Here You come in bread and wine,

In this blessed Sacrament

We in peace and joy are sent.

From Your house when we return,

May our hearts within us burn,

And at ev'ning let us say,

"We have walked with God today."

St. 1-6,8 James Montgomery, ed MDS
St. 7 MDS

The Facebook Hymn

What: I am going to quote another translation of this hymn in my sermon this Sunday, and I thought I might post this paraphrase of it.
Who: Thomas Hansen King is like the Scandinavian Isaac Watts, in that he wrote many, many hymns.
Changes: This is my up-to-date edition of the hymn. I am quite confident that it is this version that will be found in all Lutheran hymnals to come. :)
Tune: The meter is 87 87 77 88, and LSB 422 sets another translation of this hymn to DER AM KREUZ.

Post Your picture, pure and holy,

On my facebook, Savior great;

So that nothing, high or lowly,

Your blest image can delete.

Make the name below it be:

Jesus, crucified for me,

Is my life, my hope's foundation,

And my brightness and salvation!

Skriv dig, Jesu, paa mit Hjerte
Thomas Hansen Kingo
Tr. Jens Christian Aaberg, alt. MDS

God Made a Perfect Paradise

What: There is something about Holy Trinity Sunday and firsts for this blog. Last Trinity, I put forth my first translation. This Trinity, I'm putting forth my first original, based on John 3.
Note: For Holy Trinity Sunday, stanzas 3 or 6 can be left out. For Roodmas (Holy Cross Day), stanzas 1-2 and/or 7 can be left out. 
This hymn is not great, so suggestions are most welcome.
Tune: The hymn is written in Common Meter. CONSOLATION, LSB 342, would work well.

God made a perfect paradise,

Yet Eve and Adam sinned.

This great disease infected all:

One must be born again.

This second birth is from above,

Of water, Spirit, Word,

Into the Name of Jesus Christ,

Both Son of Man and Lord.

Like Moses lifted up the snake,

Man's Son is lifted high,

That all believers in the Lord

May live and never die.

For this is how God loved the world:

He gave His only Son,

That they should perish not, but live,

Who trust in Him alone.

God sent His Son into the world

Not to condemn but save;

And thru His Name we are made whole

In the baptismal wave.

Now when, in Christ, we do the truth,

We come into the light,

So all the world may clearly see

The Father's glory bright.

O Holy Spirit, grant us grace

To show our neighborhood

The life and health and love God gave

Upon the Holy Rood.

May God the Father, God the Son,

And God the Holy Ghost

Be prais'd now and forevermore

By people coast to coast.

MDS, 2012

Come, Holy Ghost, Blessed Lord

What: This is a Reformation-era translation of Martin Luther's Pentecost Hymn, Komm Heiliger Geist, Herre Gott. Miss Catherine Winkworth's "Come, Holy Ghost, God and Lord" is the more familiar translation, found in LSB 497.

Who: Miles Coverdale completed William Tyndale's Old Testament and published the first-ever English translation of the Bible from the original Greek and Hebrew, entitled the Matthew's Bible. It is Coverdale's translation of the Psalms that was in the Anglican Church's Book of Common Prayer until the 20th century. He also translated this hymn.

Note: 'Thole' means to suffer or undergo. It is related to the word 'tolerate.' "Lore venomous" is a poetic way of saying dangerous/false doctrine.

Changes: Even Coverdale acknowledged his translation was rough. I have tried to smoothen it out as best as I could, but it could still use some amending.

Tune: KOMM HEILIGER GEIST, LSB 497.

Come, Holy Ghost, blessed Lord,

Fulfill our hearts, now, with Thy grace.

And make our minds of one accord,

With love kindle them in each place.

Thou, Lord, forgivest our trespass

And call'st the folk of each country

To the right faith and trust of (Thy) grace

That they may give Thee thanks and sing to Thee.

Alleluia, alleluia!

O holy Light, principal,

The Word of Life show unto us;

And cause us to know God o'er all

For our own Father most gracious.

Lord, keep from us lore venomous

That we may follow none but Christ.

He is the truth; His Word says thus;

Cause us to set in Him alone our trust.

Alleluia, alleluia!

O holy Fire, comfort sweet,

Fill our hearts with faith and boldness,

T'abide by Thee in cold and heat;

Content to thole for righteousness.

O Lord, give strength for our weakness,

And send us help in ev'ry hour,

That we may beat all wickedness,

And bring this old Adam under Thy pow'r.

Alleluia, alleluia!

Komm, Heiliger Geist
Martin Luther
Tr. Miles Coverdale, ed. MDS

See God to Heaven Upfaring

What: This Ascension hymn has been in LCMS hymnals before. In TLH, it was Englished by Frances E Cox as "Lo, God to Heaven Ascendeth." Then, in Worship Supplement (1969), it was Englished by Martin L. Seltz as "See God to Heaven Ascending." Also, a W.J. Blew Englished it as "While Up to Heaven God Goeth" in 1846. I translated this hymn anew, but I have heavily depended on these three translations, so its almost a composite translation.
Who: Gottfried Wilhelm Sacer was a (Lutheran?) pastor in the 1600's.
Note: Bach included a setting of the last stanza in his Ascension Oratorio.
Tune: The meter is 76 76 67 76. TLH has   (LSB 354), which is the tune that I worked with. WS had ZEUCH EIN ZU DEINEN TOREN (TLH 228).

See God to heav'n upfaring

In triumph from the earth,

With horns and trumpets blaring,

All jubilant with mirth.

Sing praise to God the Lord;

Sing praise with exultation,

To Christ the King of nations,

The Lord of Hosts adored!

To greet the Lord ascending,

The heavens laugh with glee;

And, to their King attending,

The saints, whom He set free,

With myriad angels come,

With seraphs sweetly singing,

And cherub voices ringing,

They welcome YHWH home.

We know the way ascending

To our exalted Head;

We know the stairway wending

To heaven where He sped.

Our Healer goes before;

He will not here forsake us,

But to His throne He'll take us,

And open wide the door.

Our minds to heav'n are wending,

Where He prepares our place.

Our walk on earth is ending,

There to adore His grace.

Lift up your heart and soul!

Where Jesus Christ has entered,

There let your hopes be centered;

Press onward t'ward the goal. 

Let us to heav'n be springing

With humble hearts ascend.

Let us likewise be singing:

We seek You, Jesus, Friend,

You, God's annointed Son,

Our Life and Way to heaven,

To Whom all might is given,

To You our Head's true Crown.

When will that day be dawning,

When come that blessed time,

That Christ will come that morning

In majesty sublime?

Oh, quickly come and cheer

Our souls the Healer meeting,

His second coming greeting;

Sweet Day of days, appear!

Gott fähret auf gen Himmel

Gottfried Wilhelm Sacer

Tr. MDS

Lord Christ, Our Heavenly Guide

What: This is a somewhat standard evening hymn.
Who: Back in the early 1800's, David Henkel was a confessional Lutheran in America before it was cool. Long story short, he read the Book of Concord, shared it with everyone he could, and eventually started the Evangelical Lutheran Tennessee Synod. Among the stuff he wrote (before he died way too young) was his translation of Luther's Small Catechism, to which he added a few hymns.
Changes: I changed a couple things to better align the stress with the text.
Tune: The meter is SM, and I think FRANCONIA, LSB 410 works well.

Lord Christ, our heav'nly guide,

We pray Thee with us stay;

Do not Thy scepter from us hide,

Lest we should go astray.

The eventide is come;

Guide us along the road

That leads to our eternal home,

Up to the throne of God.

In these last evil days

Let not Thy Word divine

Withdraw its holy lucid rays,

But in us brilliant shine.

Pure, to the end, O Lord,

May we always preserve

Thy holy sacraments and Word,

And them with care observe.

That we in quiet rest,

Our future days may spend.

May we with godliness be blest,

Our lives in peace to end.

'Till we Thy throne surround

In heav'n with shining throngs,

Thy praise from golden harps shall sound,

In sweet harmonious songs.

David Henkel, alt.

Lord, Let Your Servant Now Depart

What: This is a Reformation Era translation of Luther's hymnic version of the Nunc Dimittis (Lord, Now Let Your Servant).
Who: Martin Luther translated by the Scottish Reformer, Wedderburn. Which Wedderburn is more difficult, but probably either Jacob or Joseph. Or they could have merely put someone else's translation in their little book. Who knows?
Note: Another translation of this hymn can be found in LSB 938.
Changes: I have edited this version, taking it out of the 16th century Scottish dialect and into today's standard English. (Because of the dialect, this is actually easier than keeping the thees and thous.
Tune: For whatever reason, Wedderburns translates this into 86 86 86. The problem is that the only tune of this meter in LSB is CORONATION, or All Hail the Pow'r of Jesus' Name.

Lord, let Your servant now depart

In gladness, rest, and peace;

I am rejoicing in my heart

To see His godly face,

Whom faithfully You promised me:

Christ Jesus, King of Grace.

Of blinded Heathen folk so sore

He is the very light,

Who never heard of Him before,

Nor saw Him with their sight.

His is the glory and decor,

And strength of Israel right.

Mit Fried und Freud
Martin Luther
Tr. Wedderburns, ed. MDS

On this Blest Epiphany

What: Basically, this hymn is a prayer to Jesus, that He accept and sanctify the poor singer's "gifts" offered Him in the Divine Service. 

Who: Erdmann Neumeister was a Lutheran hymnwriter who lived around the same time as Bach. He also wrote "Jesus Sinners Doth Receive" and the newly translated, "God's Own Child, I Gladly Say It."

Changes: This translation is largely inspired by and edited from Emanuel Cronenwett's translation in the Evangelical Lutheran Hymnal (#52). The translation below should be much more faithful to the original German.

Notes: In the original German the last line is a clear reference to "Jesus sinners doth receive." Special thanks to James Prothro, fellow graduate of CTX and fellow student here at the Sem, for helping me muddle thru the German. Lastly, I have included an alternate translation  of st. 3 for those singers neither at church nor knowing the word 'sate.'

Tune: The meter is 78 78 77 and the ELHal has JESUS NIMMT DIE SÜNDER AN, Jesus Sinners Doth Receive, LSB 609.

On this blest Epiphany

I have gifts for You, dear Jesus.

I would serve You willingly

Where You first serve me with graces.

In Your mercy, Lord, receive
What gifts I, a beggar, give.

Take the gold of faith, O Lord
It is only what You gave me
By Your Spirit and Your Word
In the water, for to save me.
Try it, make it pure from dross
In the furnace of the cross.

Take the frankincense of prayer 
And in mercy let it sate You.
As my hands rise in the air,
May this sacrifice elate You.
Hear me when I pray, O Lord
And Your "Yea, Amen!" afford.

Take the bitter myrrh of rue;

How my sins are great and grievous!

You alone are good and true,

Source of healing and forgiveness.

Lord, I praise You and believe 

Jesus my gifts doth receive.

Erdmann Neumeister

Tr. comp.

Take the frankincense of prayer;
Let it please You, I implore You.
May my hands rise in the air
As a sacrifice before You.
Hear me when I pray, O Lord
And Your "Yea, Amen!" afford.

Thank God! My Jesus Cleanses Me

What: This hymn is for the Presentation of Christ, when Jesus has just been circumcised and Mary has just been purified. The hymnwriter, Johann Olearius, brilliantly twists the images of the day: Christ's shed blood purifies us.
Who: The main translator, August Crull, was an LCMS pastor who put together an hymnal in 1884, before working on the LCMS's first English hymnal, the Evangelical Lutheran Hymn-Book. This hymn is found there, as # 189.
Note: Mark the Small Catechism allusion in verse 1. Also, note that 'Simeon' has 3 syllables.
Changes: I've updated the text a little.
Tune: The meter is 87 87 887 and ELHB has ES IST DAS HEIL (Salvation Unto Us Has Come)

Thank God! My Jesus cleanses me

From all sins I committed,

He paid my debt and set me free,

So now I am acquitted.

I trust in Jesus' righteousness,

His innocence and blessedness

Are now my life and treasure.

Why should I grieve? He Who fulfilled,

The Law, so to release us,

He Who the Father's wrath has stilled

By His own death, this Jesus

Still lives and ev'rything He owns

He gives to me thru faith alone;

Is there a greater treasure?

Now I, like Simeon, can end

My life in peace and gladness,

And to my God I can commend

My spirit without sadness;

For when I shut my weary eyes,

My death will mean I see the Christ

And feel the bliss of heaven.

Lord, may I always be prepared,

Upon Your grace relying!

Oh, keep me in Your favor here,

So I am Yours when dying;

Then I will cry, with cheerful faith

In Him, Who, dying, conquered death,

"Come Jesus! Lord, come quickly!"

Gott Lob! mein Jesus macht mich rein
Johann Olearius
Tr. comp