Gott hat das Evangelium

Here is an artifact of a period when I did a lot of hymn translations. The German original was "Gott hat das Evangelium" by Erasmus Alber, 1551. The translation was mine, 1998. The tune was written for it by Alber himself.

1. God gave the Gospel so that we
Should live to Him and godly be.
The world at large is unconcerned;
Against such wealth its back is turned:
A token that the Day is drawing near.

2. For God’s Good News they feel no need.
Their bellies swell with worldly greed;
And as it grows day after day,
“It does no harm,” they vainly say:
A token that the Day is drawing near.

3. The wicked lay new snares each day;
It is their law, their time-worn way.
And so they would storm heaven’s doors,
Take all things good and free by force:
A token that the Day is drawing near.

4. They load the Gospel with high praise,
Yet wish that none would turn his ways;
Indeed, they scorn God’s call, and say,
“No need to hasten and obey!”—
A token that the Day is drawing near.

5. All life is vain futility;
The world seems full of misery,
As if there were no God to heed
The poor man’s cry in wretched need:
A token that the Day is drawing near.

6. Men bleed the Church’s treasures dry,
Yet little profit find thereby.
To taunt the poor is not enough;
They steal the breadcrumbs from their mouth:
A token that the Day is drawing near.

7. The holy things are deadly gall
To those who trust them not at all,
Yet see, what has their greed not done!
They take the Lord’s goods as their own:
A token that the Day is drawing near.

8. None sought the Lord, and none denied
The world its overweening pride;
Their vain conceit is on the rise,
Their crooked schemes and shameless lies:
A token that the Day is drawing near.

9. Can any brother-love be found,
Or is the world theft all around?
Nor faith nor honor live today;
“If I were only rich,” they say:
A token that the Day is drawing near.

10. The wicked world brooks no restraint;
Despite God’s Word, none will repent.
No truth or life have they discerned;
“Eat, drink, be merry” they have learned:
A token that the Day is drawing near.

11. Their highest art is revelry;
Their chosen science, knavery.
These, mindless of all else, they do;
The world is mischief through and through:
A token that the Day is drawing near.

12. The lovely sun can hardly stand
To look with horror on our land.
It seems to sparkle each day less,
As if to toll the Great Distress:
A token that the Day is drawing near.

13. The moon and stars, in pangs of birth,
Look in disgust upon the earth,
And dearly wish to be made free
Of such mischief and misery:
A token that the Day is drawing near.

14. Then come, Lord Jesus, come, make haste!
Come, lay this weary world to rest!
Have done with Satan’s fiery shells,
And make an end of death and hell:
We long to see that dear and dreadful Day!