Friday, May 18, 2012

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

No comments:

Search This Blog