Advent Stanza by Paul Gerhardt

Translator’s Preface

I’ve always loved the original fourth stanza of Paul Gerhardt’s (1607–1676) beloved Advent hymn “Wie soll ich dich empfangen [O Lord, How Shall I Meet You],” which unfortunately seems to get omitted from most modern translations. The German text reads as follows:

Ich lag in schweren Banden;
Du kommst und machst mich los.
Ich stund in Spott und Schanden;
Du kommst und machst mich groß
Und hebst mich hoch zu Ehren
Und schenkst mir großes Gut,
Das sich nicht läßt verzehren,
Wie irdisch Reichtum tut.

The version in The Lutheran Hymnal (St. Louis: Concordia, 1941) does include this stanza, but its antiquated and non-euphonic language doesn’t lend itself well to updating. So I tried my own hand at translating it.

To the glory of the triune God:

Original Fourth Stanza of “O Lord, How Shall I Meet You”

I sat in chains, dejected;
You come and set me free!
To scorn and shame subjected;
You come exalting me!
In honor I am seated;
You lavish goods untold,
Which cannot be depleted
Like merchandise and gold.