Morning and Evening Prayers for All Days of the Week Part 13

And well with thee thereafter, Child of the Faithful, found Midst praise and thanks and laughter, A conqueror, and crowned.

The palms in hand before him, Which G.o.d Himself bestows, With glad songs thou'lt adore Him Who turned aside thy woes.

Make end, O Lord, good ending To all our woes ere long.

With strength on us attending, Our hands and feet make strong.

Thy faithful care bestowing, Till death, our ways attend; Then surely, heavenward going Our ways in heaven will end.

Paul Gerhardt, 1656.

Tr. A. Ramsey, 1916.

Alle Menschen muessen sterben.

Man is but a transient being And a pilgrim here below, Like a shadow, swiftly fleeing, Like the days that come and go.

He must pa.s.s through death's dark portal, To obtain that life immortal Which on yonder blissful sh.o.r.e Blooms in glory evermore.

So I willingly surrender To the Lord my fleeting breath, Knowing that His love so tender Will allay all fear of death.

In His wounds there is redemption And His death a.s.sures exemption From the punishment of sin And the sense of guilt within.

Jesus died upon the mountain, There His precious blood was spilt.

Now an ever flowing fountain Cleanseth me from all my guilt.

Hence my soul, endowed with pinions, Leaves for heaven's fair dominions, There in blissful joy to see G.o.d, the holy Trinity.

In those fair celestial regions All is life and peace and joy.

Souls are there in countless legions, Happy in the Lord's employ.

There bright Seraphim are dwelling, Who, in majesty excelling, Praise with heaven's mighty host Father, Son and Holy Ghost

There the patriarchs are living, There the prophets all abide.

There, to Jesus homage giving, His apostles, too, reside.

There the Lord's whole congregation Has a place of habitation.

There, to honor G.o.d, their King, All their hallelujahs sing.

O thou city of the sainted, Heavenly Jerusalem!

How thy beauty is untainted, Sparkling like a precious gem!

What soft music there is sounding, What sweet joys are there abounding!

Night shall never follow day, But the sun shall reign for aye.

Ah, mine eyes have seen the glory Of that city fair and high, And mine ears have heard the story Of those mansions in the sky.

Now the pure white robe of heaven And a crown to me are given, Now that light of joy is mine Which shall never cease to s.h.i.+ne.

John G. Albinus, 1652.

Tr. H. Brueckner, 1918.

Jerusalem, du hochgebaute Stadt.

Jerusalem, thou city built on high, Would G.o.d I were in thee!

My eager spirit hath so yearned to fly And bides no more with me.

O'er hill and valley mounting High, high o'er fields and wastes, O'er all, all worthless counting, Afar from earth it hastes.

O lovely day, O hour more lovely still, When wilt thou be revealed, When blissfully, my voice with joy athrill, My soul to G.o.d I yield, His pledge ordained, unfailing In His all-faithful hand, That haven waits my hailing In yonder Fatherland?

'Twill mount in e'en the twinkling of an eye Beyond the firmament, So wondrously, so gently laying by Its outworn earthly tent; Midst chariots ascending While bright angelic bands, Around it safe attending, Will bear it in their hands.

All hail to thee, O glorious city, now!

Lift up thy gates of grace How long the time I yearned for thee, and how, Before I reached this place From yonder life of grieving, Of vanity and strife, From G.o.d at length receiving The heritage of life.

What folk is this now drawing near to me, This throng of worthies blest?

These, one time of th'elect on earth, I see; The n.o.blest crown and best Which Christ, with grace compelling, Sent me in other years When still far distant dwelling In mine own land of tears.

Lo, patriarchs renowned and prophets great And gathered saintly folk, Who while on earth endured the tyrant's hate And wore the Savior's yoke!

But soaring now in freedom, With honor clothed upon, Midst radiant light I see them, And s.h.i.+ning like the sun.

Then when at length I enter in a thrill That Paradise of G.o.d, My every sense with rapturous joy will fill, My mouth with praise and laud.

Hosannas there ascending Make holy minstrelsy, With Alleluiahs blending For all eternity.

With instruments and with a joyful noise Are choirs unnumbered singing, Till by the sound and shoutings set apoise The courts of joy are ringing.

With ten ten-thousand voices And tens of thousands more, The heavenly host rejoices As ever from of yore.

Johann Matthaeus Meyfart, 1626.

Tr. A. Ramsey, 1916.

Unter Lilien jener Freuden.

Midst the lilies blooming yonder Thou shalt wander, Oh my soul, and be at home.

Rise, then, as on eagle-pinions-- Thy dominions Are above where angels roam.

Guide my s.h.i.+p, Thou First-born Brother, To no other Than that peaceful haven where, Sheltered from all storms forever, I shall never Know of sorrow, sin or care.

Thou canst fill our mouths with laughter, And hereafter Make our tongues to sing Thy praise.

Thou canst softly lead us mortals Through death's portals And above all evils raise.

For our sins and grievous errors All the terrors Of the cross Thou didst endure.

Death, thy sting for aye has vanished, Thou art banished, And I rest from thee secure.

J. L. K. Allendorf, 1731.

Tr. H. Brueckner, 1917.