Sunday, May 7, 2023

"O Lamm Gottes unschuldig" (#87)

German text in the Gesangbuch:
1 O Lamm Gottes unschuldig
am Stamm des Kreuzes geschlachtet,
allzeit funden geduldig,
wiewhol du warest verachtet;
all Sünd hast du getragen,
sonst müßten wir verzagen.
Erbarm dich unser o Jesu!  :,:

2 Von Herzen wir dir danken,
daß du so große Treue
gethan hast an uns Kranken.
Gib uns ein selge Reue,
daß wir die Sünde meiden
zu Ehren deiner Leiden.
Erbarm dich unser, o Jesu!  :,:

3 Stärk in uns das Vertrauen
durch dein Blut, Tod und Wunden;
laß uns darauf fest bauen
in unsrer letzten Stunden,
und hilf uns selig sterben,
daß wir den Himmel erben.
Gib uns dein Frieden, o Jesu!  :,:
My prose translation:
1 O innocent Lamb of God
Slaughtered on the cross,
Always found patient,
Although You were despised;
You have carried all sin,
Otherwise we would have had to despair.
Have mercy upon us, O Jesus!  :,:

2 From the heart we thank You
That You have shown
Such great faithfulness to us sick.
Give us a blessed repentance
That we avoid sin
To the glory of Your sufferings.
Hve mercy upon us, O Jesus!  :,:

3 Strengthen us in the faith
By Your blood, death, and wounds;
Let us build on it firmly
In our last hours
And help us to die holy
So that we inherit Heaven.
Give us Your peace, O Jesus!  :,:
As far as I can tell, this hymn isn't in The Lutheran Hymnal, Lutheran Worship, or The Lutheran Service Book.  The Gesangbuch notes that the text is sung to "the previous melody," which is also titled "O Lamm Gottes unschuldig," although the text is different (aside from the first verse).  Here's the TLH arrangement: