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.

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

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

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.

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.

O Sacred Feast in Holy Place

What: This is a catechetical hymn on the Lord's Supper. That is, it reminds the singers what they are receiving when they eat and drink the bread and wine. And yet the hymnwriter doesn't just set a dissertation to rhyme, but eloquently and poetically speaks from the heart on why the Lord's Supper is so special.
Who: This hymn was originally written in Latin by G.W. Wettmann, put into German by in 1868, and "Englished" in 1925, presumably by Emanuel Cronenwett.
Note: I cannot find G. W. Wettmann on the internet, nor the German title, "O welch ein heilig Abendmahl." Any info would be greatly appreciated.
Changes: I've updated the text a little, although there are still some awkward phrases.
Tune: The meter is LM (88 88). I think that WENN WIR IN HÖCHSTEN NOTEN SEIN (LSB 615) would be the most appropriate tune, but if that's too difficult, DUNEDIN (LSB 599) would also work.

O sacred feast in holy place,

Whose food and drink is saving grace,

Communion of Christ's Brotherhood

With Christ Himself as Host and Food.

"In, with, and under" earthly bread,

The Lamb once offered in our stead,

As very Bread of Life from heav'n

For our soul's hunger here is giv'n.

Mysteriously, with cup e'er blest,

As to disciples first address'd,

Christ graciously imparts His Blood

Unto our soul's eternal good.

Hence, present at this Board we face

Not merely Christ's forth-given grace;

That He Himself is present here,

Hold this in faith and trust sincere.

To Christ triumphant, this is giv'n:

Almightiness in earth, in heav'n;

His Word is truth and verity,

Both now- and thru eternity.

"This is My body, is My blood:"

This designates the unseen Good,

Which orally each guest receives,

Yes, even those who disbelieve.

With lips and faith the worthy guest

Here seeks and finds in Christ's soul-rest,

And though unworthy also come:

They give up blessing, to their doom.

O Lord, have mercy!, grant us grace

With thankful hearts Thy Name to praise,

And laud Thee someday face-to face.

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

O welch ein heilig Abendmahl
From the Latin of G. W. Wettman
German version comp. Rev. G. Cronenwett and Prof. W. Lehmann, 1868
Tr. Emanuel Cronenwett, 1926, alt.

Christ's Crimson Blood and Righteousness

Who: The Reformer, Martin Luther, held that hymns are more than just songs of praise to God. In fact, since music helps us remember the lyrics better, hymns should teach the faith. Emanuel Cronenwett continued this tradition in the hymn below. It's a Lutheran alternative to the more famous translation by John Wesley (Jesus, Thy Blood and Righteousness, LSB 563). The original hymnwriter was Count Nikolaus von Zinzendorf.
What: (new category I'm trying) This hymn teaches that even if we could become sinless (as some claim), we would still need Jesus' grace.
Note: This hymn is a "cento," meaning only some of the original verses have been translated.
Changes: none
Tune: As in the LSB, the tune should be ST. CRISPIN.

Christ's crimson blood and righteousness

My glory are and spotless dress:

In this before my God I'll stand

And enter heav'n, my Father's land.

And should I thru Christ's merits prove

Yet e'er so faithful in my love,

That I could keep from wrong alway

And sin not, to my dying day,

Still would I, when I Christ shall see,

Not think of zeal or piety,

But this: a sinner nears the throne

Whose plea for life is grace alone.

Be praised, O Jesus, without end,

That Thou from heaven didst descend,

And hast for me a ransom paid,

For all a full atonement made.

Christi Blut und Gerechtigkeit
Count Nikolas von Zinzendorf
Tr. E. Cronenwett

Dear Child, You Seem So Glad Today

Who: This is another hymn translated by Emmanuel Cronenwett, meant to be a dialogue between a child and someone else, and Cronenwett gives it the title of a "Christmas Catechism" for its Q and A style.
Changes: Mostly just updates here and there in language, with the exception of verse two.
Tune: Since it's meant to be a children's carol, I suggest to sing this to "VOM HIMMEL HOCH," although that tune is used way too often. The meter is LM, so there are definitely options.

Dear child, you seem so glad today

Oh, I am glad in ev'ry way!

Tell me your special joy this morn.

Today my Savior, Christ, was born.

This just has happened, said you so?

Oh, no! Two thousand years ago.

Where were these tidings first made known?

At Bethlehem, in David's town.

To whom was first told this delight?

To shepherds, by an angel bright.

And was this joy but for those there?

No, for all people ev'rywhere.

What said the angel of the Lord?

An ever great and blissful word.

What was it? Tell me now, I pray!

To you is born the Christ this day!

The Christ! Whom mean you by this word?

God's only Son, our blessed Lord.

And for what reason was He born?

To seek and save all those forlorn.

Who was forlorn and lost, d'you know?

We sinners, as the Law does show.

May we this Gospel then believe?

Yes, Jesus sinners doth receive.

Will Jesus also bear with me?

Yes, He bore your guilt upon the tree.

And will I then be saved, oh say!

With Christ you then shall be alway.

Mein Kind du bist ja heut so froh

Anonymous

tr. Emmanuel Cronenwett, alt.

O Healer, Split the Heavens Up

Who: Friedrich von Spee was a German Jesuit priest who wrote this somewhat familiar hymn. Bugged by how far from the German the standard translation is, I decided to edit what could be edited and translate anew what couldn't.
Note: I'm not a great poet, so rhymes don't always come easy, hence 'yote' and 'worth,' meaning to 'become,' 'turn into,' and so on, akin to the German 'werden.'
Tune: LM (88 88); O HEILAND, REISS DIE HIMMEL AUF, LSB 355. (For the video link, skip to 1:30)

1. O Healer, split the heavens up;
Come down, come down and make walls drop;
Rip up the gates, the doors tear down;
Rip up the block to heaven's crown.

2. O God, a dew from heaven yote,
In dew come down, O Healer flow.
Relent, you clouds, and rain on us,
The King of Jacob's clan and house.

3. O Earth, give seed, give seed, O Earth,
So hill and dale can green all worth.
O Earth, a blooming bud here bring,
O Healer, from the earth now spring.

4. O Spring of hope, how long, how long?
When will You come with comfort strong?
O come, O come, Your throne forego;
Come, soothe us in our dale of woe.

5. O Morning Star, O gleaming Sun,
All of us want to see Your dawn.
O Sun, go forth, without Your light
We grope in gloom and dark of night.

6. Sin's dreadful doom before us lies;
Grim death looms fierce before our eyes.
O come, lead us with mighty hand
From outland to our Fatherland.

7. There shall we all our praises bring
And sing to You, Redeemer King;
There shall we love You and You bless
In time and in foreverness.

Friedrich von Spee
st. 1-3 tr. MDS
st. 4-7 tr. Martin L. Seltz, ed. MDS

Should We Subscribe to Each Detail

Who: This one comes again from the book "Hymns and Poems," published in 1926 by Emanuel Cronenwett. It is a powerful, enheartening reminder to stick to God's Word and our Confessions' understandings of them.

Changes: I've updated it a little. My apologies to the lack of rhyme in stanza one.

Tune: It's LM, so there are lot's of choices. I suggest ERHALT UNS HERR, LSB 655, since it is already associated with similar themes. 

"Should we subscribe to each detail

That's found in old-time Bible tales?

Is not much of its outworn page

Too antiquated for our age?"

Such is the light, suggestive theme

Of all too many pulpit schemes.

"So sayeth God?" was Satan's plot

Thereby the world to his feet got.

Lord, Your disciples are not those

Who willfully Your Word oppose;

Nor do they court the world's applause,

But faithfully advance Your cause.

Those who on You and Your Word stand

Uphold the Rule of Your Command,

Our pure Confessions rest their stay

On God's sure Truth that stays always.

Lord, let Your Word remain our Light!

Our faith make strong, our practice right;

And for the Faith help us contend

And walk by faith unto the end.

E. Cronenwett, alt.

To God Let All the Human Race

Who: This hymn, by Phillip Melanchton and translated by John Christian Jacobi, speaks of God's work through the angels, and is the appointed hymn for today, Michaelmas. Another translation appears in LSB 522 and is made by Emanuel Cronenwett, whom will appear on this blog in posts to come.
Changes: I've updated the text a little.
Note: LSB stanzas 4-7 do not appear here. Likewise, some of the verses that the LSB cuts out do. The ELH, however, has all 16 verses of the original. Jacobi's translation includes v1-3, 12, 8-10, 15, 14.
Tune: LSB has ERHALT UNS HERR, but HERR GOTT, DICH LOBEN ALLE WIR (The Doxology) is also fitting.

To God let all the human race

Bring humble worship mixed with grace,

Who makes His love and wisdom known

By angels that surround His throne.

These angels, whom Your breath inspires,

Your ministers, are flaming fires,

As swift as thought their armies move,

To bear Your vengeance or Your love.

They gladly listen to Your will,

They love to grow their knowledge still;

They always serve the Lord their Rock,

In keeping guard around Your flock.

The Good, where'er Your children dwell,

They do, no mortal tung can tell,

Nor what their heav'nly care prevents,

Where they are bid to pitch their tents.

Brave Daniel found their benefit,

When with the lions (was) forced to sit;

And likewise angels rescued Lot,

So the ungodly harmed him not.

What did the three men in the flame,

Soon as their guardian-angel came?

Did not the oven's scorching fire

Resound with strains of heav'nly choir.

So God defends us day by day

From many dangers in our way

By angels, who do always keep

A watchful eye when we're asleep.

We pray to let their heav'nly host

Be guardians of our land and coast,

To keep Your little flock in peace,

So we can lead of life of grace.

O Lord, we'll bless You all our days,

Our soul shall glory in Your grace,

Your praise shall dwell upon our tungs,

All saints and angels join our songs.

Dicimus grates tibi, summe rerum
Philip Melanchton; German version Paul Eber
Tr. John Christian Jacobi, alt.