Yea, as I Live, Jehovah Saith - #331 - Nikolaus Herman - Matthias Loy Translation

Tune - St. Luke - linked here.

It can also be sung to Old Hundreth - linked here.

"Yea, as I Live, Jehovah Saith"
by Nikolaus Herman
Translated by Matthias Loy, 1828-1915

1. Yea, as I live, Jehovah saith,
I would not have the sinner's death,
But that he turn from error's ways,
Repent, and live through endless days.

2. To us therefore Christ gave command:
"Go forth and preach in every land;
Bestow on all My pardoning grace
Who will repent and mend their ways.

3. "All those whose sins ye thus remit
I truly pardon and acquit,
And those whose sins ye do retain
Condemned and guilty shall remain.

4. "What ye shall bind, that bound shall be:
What ye shall loose, that shall be free;
Unto My Church the keys are given
To ope and close the gates of heaven."

5. The words which absolution give
Are His who died that we might live;
The minister whom Christ has sent
Is but His humble instrument.

6. When ministers lay on their hands,
Absolved by Christ the sinner stands;
He who by grace the Word believes
The purchase of His blood receives.

7. All praise, eternal Son, to Thee
For absolution full and free,
In which Thou showest forth Thy grace;
From false indulgence guard our race.

8. Praise God the Father and the Son
And Holy Spirit, Three in One,
As 'twas, is now, and so shall be
World without end, eternally!

Hymn #331
The Lutheran Hymnal
Text: Ezek. 33:11
Author: Nikolaus Herman, 1560, cento
Translated by: Matthias Loy, 1880, alt.
Titled: "So wahr ich leb', spricht Gott der Herr"
Composer: Jeremiah Clarke, 1707
Tune: "St. Luke"

When My Last Hour Is Close at Hand - #594 - Nikolaus Herman

"When My Last Hour Is Close at Hand"
by Nikolaus Herman, 1480-1561

1. When my last hour is close at hand,
Lord Jesus Christ, attend me;
Beside me then, O Savior, stand
To comfort and defend me.
Into Thy hands I will commend
My soul at this my earthly end,
And Thou wilt keep it safely.

2. My sins, dear Lord, disturb me sore,
My conscience cannot slumber;
But though as sands upon the shore
My sins may be in number,
I will not quail, but think of Thee;
Thy death, Thy sorrow, borne for me,
Thy sufferings, shall uphold me.

3. I am a branch in Thee, the Vine,
And hence the comfort borrow
That Thou wilt surely keep me Thine
Through fear and pain and sorrow;
And when I die, I die to Thee,
Thy precious death hath won for me
The life that never endeth.

4. Since Thou the power of death didst rend,
In death Thou wilt not leave me;
Since Thou didst into heaven ascend,
No fear of death shall grieve me.
For where Thou art, there shall I be
That I may ever live with Thee;
That is my hope when dying.

5. My spirit I commend to Thee
And gladly hence betake me;
Peaceful and calm my sleep shall be,
No human voice can wake me.
But Christ is with me through the strife,
And He will bear me into life
And open heaven before me.

Hymn #594
The Lutheran Hymnal
Text: John 15: 5
Author: Nikolaus Herman, 1562 (stanzas 1-4)
Author: Unknown, 1575 (stanza 5)
Translated by: Catherine Winkworth, 1869, alt.
Titled: "Wenn mein Stuendlein vorhanden ist"
Tune: "Wenn mein Stuendlein"
1st Published in: Kirchengesaeng
Town: Frankfurt a. M., 1569