Up, up, my heart, with gladness

Representative Text

Up! up! my heart with gladness,
See what to-day is done!
How after gloom and sadness
Comes forth the glorious Sun!
My Saviour there was laid
Where our bed must be made,
When to the realms of light
Our spirit wings its flight.

They in the grave did sink Him,
The foe held jubilee;
Before he can bethink him,
Lo! Christ again is free.
And victory He cries,
And waving tow’rds the skies
His banner, while the field
Is by the Hero held!

Upon the grave is standing
The Hero looking round;
The foe, no more withstanding,
His weapons on the ground
Throws down, his hellish pow’r
To Christ must he give o’er,
And to the Victor’s bands
Must yield his feet and hands.

A sight it is to gladden
And fill the heart with glee,
No more affright or sadden
Shall aught, or take from me
My trust or fortitude,
Or any precious good
The Saviour bought for me
In sov’reign love and free.

Hell and its bands can never
Hurt e’en a single hair,
Sin can I mock at ever,
Safe am I everywhere.
The mighty pow’r of death
Is my regard beneath;
It is a pow’rless form,
Howe’er it rage and storm.

The world my laughter ever
Moves, though it rage amain,
It rages, but can never
Do ill, its work is vain.
No trouble troubles me,
My heart from care is free,
Misfortune is my prize,
The night my fair sunrise.

I cleave, and cleave shall ever,
To Christ, a member true,
Shall part from my Head never,
Whate’er He passes through;
He treads the world beneath
His feet, and conquers death
And hell, and breaks sin’s thrall;
I’m with Him through it all.

To halls of heav’nly splendour
With Him I penetrate;
And trouble ne’er may hinder
Nor make me hesitate.
What will, may angry be,
My Head accepteth me,
My Saviour is my Shield,
By Him all rage is still’d.

He to the gates me leadeth
Of yon fair realms of light,
Whereon the pilgrim readeth,
In golden letters bright:
“Who’s there despised with me,
Here with me crown’d shall be;
Who there with me shall die,
Here’s raised with me on high!”

Source: Paul Gerhardt's Spiritual Songs #16

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Translator: J. Kelly

Kelly, John, was born at Newcastle-on-Tyne, educated at Glasgow University, studied theology at Bonn, New College, Edinburgh, and the Theological College of the English Presbyterian Church (to which body he belongs) in London. He has ministered to congregations at Hebburn-on-Tyne and Streatham, and was Tract Editor of the Religious Tract Society. His translations of Paul Gerhardt's Spiritual Songs were published in 1867. Every piece is given in full, and rendered in the metre of the originals. His Hymns of the Present Century from the German were published in 1886 by the Religious Tract Society. In these translations the metres of the originals have not always been followed, whilst some of the hymns have been abridged and others condens… Go to person page >

Author: Paul Gerhardt

Paul Gerhardt (b. Gräfenheinichen, Saxony, Germany, 1607; d. Lubben, Germany, 1676), famous author of Lutheran evangelical hymns, studied theology and hymnody at the University of Wittenberg and then was a tutor in Berlin, where he became friends with Johann Crüger. He served the Lutheran parish of Mittenwalde near Berlin (1651-1657) and the great St. Nicholas' Church in Berlin (1657-1666). Friederich William, the Calvinist elector, had issued an edict that forbade the various Protestant groups to fight each other. Although Gerhardt did not want strife between the churches, he refused to comply with the edict because he thought it opposed the Lutheran "Formula of Concord," which condemned some Calvinist doctrines. Consequently, he was r… Go to person page >

Translator: N. L. Frothingham

Frothingham, Nathaniel Langdon, D.D., born at Boston July 23rd, 1793, and graduated at Harvard 1811, where he was also sometime Tutor. From 1815 to 1850 he was Pastor of the First Church (Unitarian), Boston, and subsequently attended as a worshipper the church where he had been 35 years minister till his sight and strength failed him. He died April 4th, 1870. His Metrical Pieces, in 2 volumes, were published in 1855 and 1870. 1. O God, Whose presence glows in all. Ordination. This was written in 1828 for the ordination of W. B. Lunt, New York. 2. We meditate the day . Installation. Written in 1835 for Mr. Lunt's installation at Quincy, Mass., as Co-pastor with Peter Whitney. 3. O Lord of life and truth and grace . Ordin… Go to person page >

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Text Information

Text Information

First Line:	Up, up, my heart, with gladness
German Title:	Auf, Auf, mein Herz mit Freuden
Translator:	J. Kelly
Translator:	N. L. Frothingham
Author:	Paul Gerhardt
Language:	English