Here is my translation of the Bohemian Brethren hymn, "O freu dich, Jerusalem" (J. Horn, 1544), on the Incarnation, suitable for Advent (esp. Ad Te Levavi) and Laetare, referencing both Isaiah 66 and Jeremiah 23. The tune is proper. Note that my scheme has been based on that of the German translation, which was done in couplets with a last unrhymed line, and the presumably trochaic endings of the original Bohemian lines slurred into monosyllables, so that the scheme is rigid AABBCCDDE. It seems at second glance, however, that the translation might be better served with interlocking rhymes and trochees where the melodic lines end in slurred monosyllables (A-Bn-A-Bn-Cn-Cn-A-Cn [or Dn]). I may venture that sometime in the future, since it would probably sound more natural.
O REJOICE, Jerusalem; O Church, thy silence stem! Praise thy God exultingly, Who turned His wrath from thee, And, in thy need, to prove His unfailing love, Sent His one begotten Son From heaven's lofty throne, To this vale of tears.
2. This He did thy sin to take, And thee from bondage break, And, partaking of our flesh, Salvation bring afresh, Which never human might Could itself set right: Thus, lest thou be ever doomed, Thy nature He assumed, Stooping down so low.
3. In a servant's humble frame Into our world He came. From the Father hither sent, Thy King and Savior bent His will most readily To give up for thee His own life to shameful death That all distress and wrath Might from thee be kept.
4. Jesus is the Seed divine, The Branch of David's line Who Himself the human race Restored by boundless grace Of mighty majesty, God of heav'n is He, And the true Immanuel Who did our souls from hell Wondrously redeem.
5. Grace and comfort fill His name, And are His rightful claim, Called: The Lord our Righteousness, Clothed in our human dress, For us He rules and crowns And adorns with gowns Of His glory unalloyed Which, heaven's hosts, o'erjoyed, Ever long to see.
6. Therefore Christ the Savior praise, Sent down, our souls to raise, And beseech Him for our sake That here we may partake Of His own righteousness And the holiness Of His conception ay: To Christ thy Lord then pray, Ne'er Thy Church forsake!
Translation © Matthew Carver, 2011.
GERMAN
1. O freu dich, Jerusalem, du christliche Gemein, lob Gott mit fröhlicher Stimm, daß er von dir sein Grimm aus Lieb gewendet hat und um deiner Not gesandt seinen lieben Sohn von dem himmlischen Thron auf den Jammerthal.
2. Aufdaß er dich deiner Sünd benehm, davon entbünd, und durch sein Theilhaftigkeit bring zu der Seligkeit welch sonst kein menschlich Macht hat zu wegen bracht darum nimmt er dir zugut in so großer Demut dein Natur an sich.
3. Sehr in niedriger Gestalt ist er auf diese Welt vom Vater herab gesandt, dein König und Heiland, der also williglich sein Leben für dich hie opfert bis in den Tod, daß du aus aller Not möchtest ledig sein.
4. Er ist der verheißne Sam, der Zweig von Davids Stamm, durch den das menschlich Geschlecht, wird wiederbracht zurecht, von sehr großer Gewalt göttlicher Gestalt, der rechte Immanuel, welcher uns aus der Hell, selbst erlöset hat.
5. Sein Nam ist voll Trosts und Gnad, denn er hat von der That Herr, unser Gerechtigkeit heißt er in der Menschheit, damit er uns regiert, lieblich schmückt und ziert, und schenkt uns solch Herrlichkeit welch die Engel erfreut und gelüst zu sehn.
6. Ei, lob Christum den Heiland, vom Vater uns gesandt; bitt ihn auf daß er uns auch allhie theilhaftig mach seiner Gerechtigkeit wird und Heiligkeit darinn er mpfangen ist sprich, O Herr Jesu Christ, verlaß dein Volk nicht.
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