Lord Jesus, who, our souls to save

Author: Georg Werner

Werner, Georg, born March 22, 1589, at Preussisch-Holland, near Elbing, Prussia. In 1614 he became a master in the Löbenicht school at Königsberg, and in 1616 rector of the school at Preussisch-Holland. He was then appointed, in 1621, diaconus of the Löbenicht church at Königsberg. He died at Königsberg, July 15, 1643 (Koch, iii., 206, v. 659; Goedeke's Grundriss, vol. iii., 1887, p. 134, &c). He edited the Königsberg Gesang-Buch of 1643 (earliest copy now extant has title dated 1650, and preface dated 1643), to which he contributed a number of hymns. He also contributed to B. Derschau's Gesang-Buch, 1639 (p. 1248, ii.). His Psalm versions are noted under Psalters, German. The only hymn by him which has passed into English is a transl… Go to person page >

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 >