Wednesday, July 19, 2023

Now thank we all our God

7 Nun Danket. 6. 7. 6. 7. 6. 6. 6. 6.

1 Now thank we all our God
   with heart and hands and voices,
   who wondrous things has done,
   in whom his world rejoices;
   who from our mothers' arms
   has blessed us on our way
   with countless gifts of love,
   and still is ours today.

2 O may this bounteous God
   through all our life be near us,
   with ever joyful hearts
   and blessed peace to cheer us,
   to keep us in his grace,
   and guide us when perplexed,
   and free us from all ills
   of this world in the next.

3 All praise and thanks to God
   the Father now be given,
   the Son and Spirit blest,
   who reign in highest heaven
   the one eternal God,
   whom heaven and earth adore;
   for thus it was, is now,
   and shall be evermore.
                         Martin Rinkart
                         Translated by Catherine Winkworth
                        The Methodist Hymnal 1939 edition

<idle musing>
I encourage you to click through to the biographies of the author and translator of this hymn. The author's biography is a testimony to endurance in the face of plague, war, and threats, while that of the translator is a look at an early activist for women's rights. Well worth your time!
</idle musing>

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