A Little Night Music, Part I

The Evening Hymns perhaps make up my favorite section in the hymnal.

I came across an evening hymn service in Germany a few days ago.

As best I can, I will try to give translations. The first is a favorite bedtime prayer for many who are of German ancestry. So, dim the lights, set the video to full screen, light your own candle, and enjoy!

~~~~~

Müde Bin Ich

Muede bin ich, geh' zur Ruh',
schließe beide Aeuglein zu.
Vater lass die Augen dein
ueber meinem Bette sein.

Hab ich Unrecht heut getan,
sieh es lieber Gott, nicht an!
Deine Gnad' und Jesu Blut
machen allen Schaden gut.

Alle, die mir sind verwandt,
Gott lass ruhn in deiner Hand.
Alle Menschen gross und klein,
sollen dir befohlen sein.

Back in high school, we learned this hymn alongside Now the Light Has Gone Away. This was first year German, and I had no idea these two hymns were not at all related! For more on the latter's hymn writer, check out this post featuring Francis Havergal over at Wordwise Hymns.

Here is a rough word-for-word translation, with a group effort from the Wittenberg Trail community on stanza 3. Special thanks to Trail friend Rik for piecing together everyones' translation bits into one cohesive stanza.

I am tired, I go to rest.
My little eyes are sleepy.
Father, let Your eyes
Be over my bed.

The wrong I have done today,
Look not on it, Loving God!
Your grace and Jesus' blood
Make all sorrow good.

(Let) all who are akin to me,
Rest, God, in Your hand.
(Keep) all mankind, great and small,
Commended to Your care.

Of course, if you want to sing along in English, you can always sing this fine hymn, which was originally penned in English and is paired with the tune, "Muede Bin Ich."

Now the light has gone away;
Father, listen while I pray,
Asking Thee to watch and keep
And to send me quiet sleep.

Jesus, Savior, wash away
All that has been wrong today;
Help me every day to be
Good and gentle, more like Thee.

Let my near and dear ones be
Always near and dear to Thee.
Oh, bring me and all I love
To Thy happy home above.

Now my evening praise I give;
Thou didst die that I might live.
All my blessings come from The;
Oh, how good Thou art to me!

Thou, my best and kindest Friend,
Thou wilt love me to the end.
Let me love Thee more and more,
Always better than before.

LCMS Convention Proposals

All for Hymn is a decidedly Confessional Lutheran blog, but the author does not want to bring his denomination's politics into a blog about hymns.

So, if you want to discuss these things, you can check out the facebook page for Iggy Antiochus (the author of All for Hymn) or you can follow the commentary over at Vocation in the Valley. The writer of VV is facebook friend Brian Y., who is a delegate for the convention.

Both Brian and I are walking through each resolution. Brian is more informed, since he has been to delegate meetings and other events to that aid delegates in their decisions.

Brian operates a public blog, so you can go ahead and leave comments at will over there. You probably need to be a facebook friend to see my comments. When requesting facebook friendship, please let me know you are a blog reader using "add a personal message."

For the hymn below, I am providing the public domain words. They will differ slightly from the ones that are sung.

~~~~~

Ach Bleib Uns Herr
Lord Jesus Christ, With Us Abide



Lord Jesus Christ, with us abide,
For round us falls the eventide;
O let Thy Word, that saving light,
Shine forth undimmed into the night.



In these last days of great distress
Grant us, dear Lord, true steadfastness
That we keep pure till life is spent,
Your holy Word and Sacrament.



To hope grown dim, to hearts turned cold
Speak tongues of fire and make us bold
To shine Your Word of saving grace
Into each dark and loveless place.



Restrain, O Lord, the human pride
That seeks to thrust Your truth aside
Or with some man-made thoughts or things
Would dim the words Your Spirit sings.



Stay with us, Lord, and keep us true;
Preserve our faith our whole life through-
Your Word alone our heart's defense,
The Church's glorious confidence.