"Liebster Jesu, wir sind hier" (#8)

German text from the Gesangbuch:

Liebster Jesu, wir sind hier,

dich und dein Wort anzuhören;

lenke sinnen und Begier

auf die süßen Himmelslehren,

daß die Herzen von der Erden

ganz zu dir gezogen werden.

Unser Wissen und Verstand

ist mit Finsterniß umhüllet,

wo nicht deines Geistes Hand

uns mit hellem Licht erfüllet:

gutes Denken, gutes Dichten,

mußt du selbst in uns verrichten.

O du Glanz der Herrlichkeit,

Licht vom Licht aus Gott geboren,

mach uns allesamt bereit,

öffne Herzen, Mund und Ohren:

unser Bitten, Flehn und Singen

laß, Herr Jesu, wohl gelingen.

Vater, Sohn, Heiliger Geist,

dir sei ewig Preise und Ehre,

tröst die Herzen allermeist

mit dem Wort der reinen Lehre

hier in diesen Sterblichkeiten,

bis wir dort dein Lob ausbreiten.

T. Clausnitzer, 1671.

My prose translation:

Dear Jesus, we are here

To listen to You and Your word;

Guide senses and desire

To the sweet lesson of Heaven

That the hearts from the earth

Will be drawn completely to You.

Our knowledge and understanding

Is shrouded in darkness

Where the hand of Your Spirit does not

Fill us with bright light:

Good thought, good writing,

You Yourself must work in us.

O You brilliance of splendor,

Light of light born out of God,

Make us all ready,

Open head, mouth, and ears:

Our interceding, begging, and singing

Let well succeed, Lord Jesus.

Father, Son, Holy Ghost,

To You be praise and honor eternally,

Comfort the hearts most of all

With the word of pure doctrine

Here in this mortality,

Until we extend Your praise there.

The phrase "Light of light" ("Licht vom Licht") seems to be taken from the Nicene Creed.

"Born out of God" is an accurate translation for "aus Gott geboren," but I'm not sure it's the best translation from a theological standpoint.

In the lines "Vater, Sohn, Heiliger Geist, / dir sei ewig Preise und Ehre," there's a plural vocative for the figures of the Trinity ("Vater, Sohn, Heiliger Geist" "Father, Son, Holy Ghost"), but a singular pronoun ("dir" "to You") referring to them collectively.

This hymn appears as "Blessed Jesus, at Thy Word" in The Lutheran Hymnal (#16), "Dearest Jesus, at Your Word" in Lutheran Worship (#202), and "Blessed Jesus, at Your Word" in The Lutheran Service Book (#904).  It's sung to its own melody.  Here's the arrangement from The Lutheran Hymnal: