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1. Vom Himmel kam der Engel Schar,
Erschien den Hirten offenbar,
Sie sagten ihn'n: Ein Kindlein zart,
Das liegt dort in der Krippen hart.
2. Zu Bethlehem in Davids Stadt,
Wie Micha das verkündet hat.
Es ist der Herre Jesus Christ,
Der euer aller Heiland ist.
3. Des sollt ihr billig fröhlich sein,
Daß Gott it euch ist worden ein,
Er ist geborn eur Fleisch und Blut,
Eur Bruder ist das ewig Gut.
4. Was kann euch thun die Sünd und Tod?
Ihr habt mit euch den wahren Gott.
Laßt zürnen Teufel und die Höll:
Gotts Sohn ist worden eur Gesell.
5. Er will und kann euch lassen nicht,
Setzt ihr auf ihn eur Zuversicht.
Es mögen euch viel fechten an:
Dem sei Trotz, ders nicht lassen kann.
6. Zuletzt müßt ihr doch haben recht,
Ihr seid nun worden Gotts Geschlecht.
Des danket Gott in ewigkeit,
Geduldig, fröhlich allezeit.
Source: Kirchenbuch für Evangelisch-Lutherische Gemeinden #37
First Line: | Vom Himmel kam der Engel Schar |
Author: | Martin Luther |
Language: | German |
Notes: | Polish translation: See "Pasterzom w świętej nocy Bóg"; English translation: "To shepherds as they watched by night" by Richard Massie |
Copyright: | Public Domain |
Suggested tune: VOM HIMMEL HOCH
===================
Vom Himmel kam der Engel Schaar. M. Luther. [Christmas.] This is founded on St. Luke ii. 10, 11, and St. Matt, ii. 6; and was apparently written in 1543, and meant for use when his other Christmas hymn ("Vom Himmel hoch") was thought to be too long. It was first published in the Geistlicite Lieder, Wittenberg, 1543, in 6 stanzas of 4 lines, and thence in Wachernagel, iii. p. 28. Also in Schirck's ed. of Luther's Geistliche Lieder, 1854, p. 15, and in the Unverfälschter Liedersegen 8.9 1851. Translated as:—
1. From yon ethereal heavens . This is a paraphrase, in 54 lines, by Miss Fry, in her Hymns of the Reformation , 1845, p. 20. From this a cento in 5 stanzas of S.M., recast and beginning, "Let all our hearts rejoice," is No. 5 in Whittemore's Supplement to All Hymn Books, 1860.
2. To shepherds as they watched by night. In full, by R. Massie in his Martin Luther's Spiritual Songs, 1854, p. 7. Included in the Ohio Lutheran Hymnal, 1880, and by Dr. Bacon in his Hymns of Martin Luther, 1884, p. 66.
Other translations are:—
(l) "A band of angels from the sky," as No. 145 in pt. i. of the Moravian Hymn Book, I754. (2) "Sing! sing! ye ransomed mortals, sing." By Sir John Bowring in his Hymns, 1825, No. 81. (3) "The humble shepherds, tending." By J. Anderson, 1846, p. 1 (1847, p. 31). (4) "From heaven there came an angel throng." By Dr. J. Hunt, 1853, p. 33. (5) "From heaven angel hosts did fly." By Miss Manington, 1864, p. 32. (6) "The angels came down in their cohorts so bright." By S. Garratt in his Hymns & Translations, 1867, p. 37. (7) "From heaven the angel-troop came near." By Dr. G. Macdonald in the Sunday Magazine , 1867, p. 256; altered in his Exotic , 1876, p. 48. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.]
-- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)
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