Welcome to earth, Thou noble Guest

Representative Text

1 Welcome to earth, Thou noble Guest,
Through whom the sinful world is blest!
Thou com'st to share our misery,
What thanks shall we return to Thee?

2 Yet were the world ten times as wide
With gold and jewels beautified,
It would be far too small to be
A narrow cradle, Lord, for Thee.

3 Ah, dearest Jesus, holy Child,
Make Thee a bed, soft, undefiled,
Within my heart, that it may be
A quiet chamber kept for Thee.

4 Glory to God in highest heaven,
Who unto man His Son has given;
While angels sing with joyous mirth
A glad New Year to all the earth.

Amen.

Source: Book of Worship with Hymns and Tunes #223

Translator: Catherine Winkworth

Catherine Winkworth (b. Holborn, London, England, 1827; d. Monnetier, Savoy, France, 1878) is well known for her English translations of German hymns; her translations were polished and yet remained close to the original. Educated initially by her mother, she lived with relatives in Dresden, Germany, in 1845, where she acquired her knowledge of German and interest in German hymnody. After residing near Manchester until 1862, she moved to Clifton, near Bristol. A pioneer in promoting women's rights, Winkworth put much of her energy into the encouragement of higher education for women. She translated a large number of German hymn texts from hymnals owned by a friend, Baron Bunsen. Though often altered, these translations continue to be used i… Go to person page >

Author: Martin Luther

Luther, Martin, born at Eisleben, Nov. 10, 1483; entered the University of Erfurt, 1501 (B.A. 1502, M.A.. 1503); became an Augustinian monk, 1505; ordained priest, 1507; appointed Professor at the University of Wittenberg, 1508, and in 1512 D.D.; published his 95 Theses, 1517; and burnt the Papal Bull which had condemned them, 1520; attended the Diet of Worms, 1521; translated the Bible into German, 1521-34; and died at Eisleben, Feb. 18, 1546. The details of his life and of his work as a reformer are accessible to English readers in a great variety of forms. Luther had a huge influence on German hymnody. i. Hymn Books. 1. Ellich cristlich lider Lobgesang un Psalm. Wittenberg, 1524. [Hamburg Library.] This contains 8 German h… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Welcome to earth, Thou noble Guest
Original Language: German
Translator: Catherine Winkworth
Author: Martin Luther
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Tune

VOM HIMMEL HOCH

Initially Luther used the folk melody associated with his first stanza as the tune for this hymn. Later he composed this new tune for his text. VOM HIMMEL HOCH was first published in Valentin Schumann's Geistliche Lieder in 1539. Johann S. Bach (PHH 7) used Luther's melody in three places in his wel…

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Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 3 of 3)
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Book of Worship with Hymns and Tunes #223

Hymns, Selected and Original, for Sunday Schools of the Evangelical Lutheran Church #d486

Lutheran Worship #38

Exclude 2 pre-1979 instances
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