O hochbeglückte Seele. C. J. P. Spitta. [Christian Service.] A fine hymn for Lay Helpers and all workers in Christ's service. First published in his Psalter und Harfe, Pirna, 1833, p. 78, in 7 stanzas of 8 lines, entitled "The Servant of the Lord." Included in the Leipzig Gesang-Buch, 1844, No. 395. Translated as:—
1. How blessed, from the bonds of sin. A free translaton of stanzas i., ii., vi., vii., by Miss Borthwick, in Hymns from the Land of Luther, 1st Ser., 1854, p. 66 (1884, p. 67). This version has attained considerable popularity, and is found in a number of the leading hymnals of Great Britain, e.g. Hymns Ancient & Modern, 1875; the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge Church Hymns , 1871; Free Church Hymn Book, 1882, &c.; and in America in the Episcopal Hymns for Church & Home, 1860; Boardman's Selection, 1861, &c.
2. The man is highly blessed. In full, by R. Massie, in his Lyra Domestica , 1860, p. 76. His translations of stanzas iii., iv., vi., vii. beginning "God sancti¬fies and blesses," are included in the Book of Common Praise , 1863, and G. S. Jellicoe's Collection, 1867.
Other translations are, (l) "O Soul, how blest (blest truly,") by the Hon. S. E. Maxwell, 1857, p. 101. (2) "Thrice happy he who serveth." by Miss Burlingham, in the British Herald , Aug. 1865, p. 119. (3) "O highly blessed servant," by Lady Durand, 1873. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.]
--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)