Hymn of the Week: October 23, 2022

Hymn of the Week: Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above
Glory to God: 465

Text Johann Jakob Schutz 1675
Translator Elizabeth Francis Cox. 1864
Music Bohemian Brethren’s Kirchengesang 1566

Sing praise to God who reigns above,
the God of all creation,
the God of power, the God of love,
the God of our salvation.
With healing balm my soul is filled,
and every faithless murmur stilled:
To God all praise and glory!

What God’s almighty power has made
God's gracious mercy keepeth;
by morning glow or evening shade
God's watchful eye ne'er sleepeth.
Within the kingdom of God's might,
lo! all is just and all is right:
To God all praise and glory!

The Lord is never far away,
but, through all grief distressing,
an ever-present help and stay,
our peace and joy and blessing,
As with a mother's tender hand
God gently leads the chosen band:
To God all praise and glory!

Thus all my toilsome way along
I sing aloud thy praises,
that all may hear the grateful song
my voice unwearied raises.
Be joyful in the Lord, my heart;
both soul and body, take your part:
To God all praise and glory!

Cox, Frances Elizabeth, daughter of Mr. George V. Cox, born in Oxford, is well known as a successful translator of hymns from German. Her translations were published as Sacred Hymns from the German, London, and Pickering. The 1st edition, pub. 1841, contained 49 translations printed with the original text, together with biographical notes on the German authors. In the 2nd edition, 1864, Hymns from the German, London, Rivingtons, the translations were increased to 56, those of 1841 being revised, and with additional notes. The 56 translations were composed of 27 from the 1st ed. (22 being omitted) and 29 which were new. The best-known of her translations is "Jesus lives! no longer [thy terrors] now"; and ”Who are these like stars appearing ?" A few other translations and original hymns have been contributed by Miss Cox to the magazines, but they have not been gathered together into a volume.

-- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Schütz, Johann Jakob, was born Sept. 7, 1640, in Frankfurt am Main. After studying at Tübingen (where he became a licentiate in civil and canon law), he began to practise as an advocate in Frankfurt, and in later years with the title of Rath. He seems to have been a man of considerable legal learning as well as of deep piety. He was an intimate friend of P. J. Spener; and it was, in great measure, at his suggestion, that Spener began his famous Collegia Pietatis. After Spener left Frankfurt, in 1686, Schütz came under the influence of J. W. Petersen; and carrying out Petersen's principles to their logical conclusion, he became a Separatist, and ceased to attend the Lutheran services or communicate. He died at Frankfurt, May 22, 1690 (Koch, iv. 220; Blätter fur Hymnologie, Feb. 1883).

Take a listen to both versions of the same hymn. They each bring a different emotional and spiritual response.