Jesu geh voran

Representative Text

1 Jesus, geh voran
auf der Lebensbahn;
und wir wollen nicht verweilen,
Dir getreulich nachzueilen,
führ uns an der Hand
bis ins Vaterland.

2 Soll's uns hart ergehn
laß uns feste stehn,
und auch in den schwersten Tagen
niemals über Lasten klagen;
denn durch Trübsal hier
geht der Weg zu Dir.

3 Rühret eigner Schmerz
irgend unser Herz,
kümmert uns ein fremdes Leiden:
O so gib Geduld zu beiden.
Richte unsern Sinn
auf Dein Kommen hin.

4 Ordne unsern Gang,
Jesus, lebenslang.
Führst Du uns durch rauhe Wege,
gib uns auch die nöt'ge Pflege.
Tu uns nach dem Lauf
Deine Türe auf.

Source: Glaubenslieder #206

Author: Nicolaus Ludwig, Graf von Zinzendorf

Zinzendorf, Count Nicolaus Ludwig, the founder of the religious community of Herrnhut and the apostle of the United Brethren, was born at Dresden May 26, 1700. It is not often that noble blood and worldly wealth are allied with true piety and missionary zeal. Such, however, was the case with Count Zinzendorf. In 1731 Zinzendorf resigned all public duties and devoted himself to missionary work. He traveled extensively on the Continent, in Great Britain, and in America, preaching "Christ, and him crucified," and organizing societies of Moravian brethren. John Wesley is said to have been under obligation to Zinzendorf for some ideas on singing, organization of classes, and Church government. Zinzendorf was the author of some two thousand hymn… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Jesu geh voran
Author: Nicolaus Ludwig, Graf von Zinzendorf
Language: German
Notes: Polish translation: See "Toruj, Jezu, sam"; English translation: See "Jesus, still lead on" by Jane Borthwick; Czech translation: See "Jezu, rač ty sám"; Slovak translation: "Ježiši, Ty sám"; Swahili translation: See "Mwokozi Yesu utangulie"
Copyright: Public Domain

Notes

Jesu geh’ voran. N. L. von Zinzendorf. [Following Christ.] First appeared as No. 525 in the Bruder Gesang-Buch, 1778, in 4 stanzas of 6 lines. It is a slightly altered cento (probably made by Christian Gregor) from two hymns by Zinzendorf, on both of which see notes. Stanza i. is stanza x., iii. is stanza iv., and iv. is stanza xi. of "Seelenbraütigam, O du Gottes-Lamm"; and stanza ii. is st. xi. of "Glanz der Ewigkeit." In the text of 1778 it has passed into many German hymn-books, e.g. the Berlin Geistliche Lieder edition 1863, No. 634; and has become a great favourite, especially as a children's hymn. Translated as:—
1. Jesus, still lead on. A very good but free translation by Miss Borthwick, in the Free Church Magazine, 1846, p. 14, repeated, slightly altered, in Hymns from the Land of Luther, 1st Ser., 1854, p. 23 (1884, p. 26). From the Hymns from the Land of Luther it has passed into many recent hymnals, e.g. the People's Hymnal, 1867; Church Hymns 1871; Taring's Collection, 1882; Baptist Hymnal, 1879; New Congregational Hymnal, 1887, &c.; and in America in the Sabbath Hymn Book, 1858; Presbyterian Hymnal, 1874; Hymns & Songs of Praise, N. Y., 1874, &c, generally in full and unaltered.
2. Jesu! guide our way. A good and full translation by A. T. Russell,, written March 20, 1846, and published in his Psalms & Hymns, 1851, No. 61. This, generally omitting stanza iii., has been repeated in the Book of Praise Hymnal, 1867; American Presbyterian Hymnal, 1874; Evangelical Hymnal, N. Y., 1880, &c. The versions in the English Presbyterian Psalms & Hymns, 1867, and John Robinson's [some time Chaplain of the Settle Union, Yorkshire, who d. Jan. 1886] Collection, 1869, are partly from Mr. Russell and partly from Miss Borthwick.
3. Jesu, day by day. A full and close translation by Miss Winkworth, as No. 174 in her Chorale Book for England, 1863; and in her Christian Singers, 1869. Repeated in J. L. Porter's Collection, 1876, and M. W. Stryker's Christian Chorals, 1885.
4. Jesu! be our Guide. By L. Heyl, as No. 406 in the Ohio Lutheran Hymnal, 1880.
Other translations are, (1) "Jesus, lead the way," by J. D. Bums, in the Family Treasury, 1859, pt. i. p. 289, and his Memoir & Remains, 1869, p. 241. (2) ”O Jesus, show the way," in Dr. J. F. Hurst's translation of K. R. Hagenbach's History of the Church 18 and 19 centuries, N. Y., 1869, vol. i. p. 433. (3) "Jesus, day by day," partly from Miss Winkworth, as No. 1014 in Reid's Praise Book, 1872. (4) "Jesus, day by day, Guide us on our way," as No. 485 in the Moravian Hymn Book, 1886. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.]

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

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Instances (1 - 80 of 80)

Concordia-Kinderchoere #d98

Das Christliche Gesang-Buch #d141

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Des "Heils Vollendung" #125

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Deutsches Gesang- und Choralbuch #a106

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Deutsches Gesangbuch für die Evangelisch-Luterische Kirche in den Vereinigten Staaten #464

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Deutsches Gesangbuch für die Evangelisch-Luterische Kirche in den Vereinigten Staaten #464

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Deutsches Gesangbuch #106

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Deutsches Gesangbuch #106

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Deutsches Gesangbuch #464

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Deutsches Lieder- und Melodienbuch #436

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Deutsches Liederbuch #222

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Die Glaubensharfe (With Melodies) #403

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Die Glaubensharfe #403

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Evang.-Lutherisches Gesangbuch #464

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Evangelischer Liederschatz #100

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Evangelisches Gesangbuch #224

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Evangelisches Gesangbuch #79

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Evangelisches Gesangbuch #79

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Evangeliums-Lieder 1 und 2 (Gospel Hymns) #296

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Evangeliums-Lieder 1 und 2 #296

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Frohe Lieder und Brüder-Harfe #359

Gesang und Melodienbuch #d348

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Gesangbuch der Bischöflichen Methodisten-Kirche #406

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Gesangbuch der Evangelischen Kirche #391

Gesangbuch fuer Deutsche Sonntagsschulen #d105

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Gesangbuch für deutsche Gemeinden #133

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Gesangbuch in Mennoniten-Gemeinden in Kirche und Haus (4th ed.) #377

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Gesangbuch mit Noten #313

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Gesangbuch mit Noten #313

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Gesangbuch #325

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Gesänge für Sonntag-Schulen #51

Glaubens-Lieder #d259

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Glaubenslieder #206

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Gute Botschaft #286

Harfen-Klaenge #d130

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Jugendharfe #246

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Kirchenbuch für Evangelisch-Lutherische Gemeinden #337

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Kirchenbuch für Evangelisch-Lutherische Gemeinden #337

Kleiner Liederschatz #d50

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Kropper Gesang- und Liederbuch #149

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Liederbuch für Sonntagsschulen #183

Liederbuch für Sonntagsschulen #183

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Muntere Lieder #188a

Psalterlust fuer die Christliche Jugend #d131

Psalterlust fuer die Christliche Jugend. Rev. #ad131

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Sieges-Lieder #146

Sonntags-Schul-Harfe #d92

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Sonntags-Schul-Harfe #175

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Sonntagschulbuch #238

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The Cyber Hymnal #13517

The Selah Song Book (Das Sela Gesangbuch) #d361

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Zwei- und dreistimmige geistliche Lieder und Choräle #c17

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