Help us, O Lord, behold we enter

Representative Text

1 Help us, O Lord, for now we enter
Upon another year today.
In you our hopes and thoughts now center;
Renew our courage for the way.
New life, new strength, new happiness
We ask of you -- oh, hear and bless.

2 May ev'ry plan and undertaking
Begin this year, O Lord, with you;
When I am sleeping or am waking,
Help me, dear Lord, your will to do.
In you alone, my God, I live;
You only can my sins forgive.

3 And may this year to me be holy;
Your grace so fill my ev'ry thought
That all my life be pure and lowly
And truthful, as a Christian's ought.
So make me while I'm living here
Your faithful servant through the year.

4 Jesus, be with me and direct me;
Jesus, my plans and hopes inspire;
Jesus, from tempting thoughts protect me;
Jesus, be all my heart's desire;
Jesus, be in my thoughts all day
And never let me fall away.

5 And grant, Lord, when the year is over,
That it for me in peace may close.
In all things care for me and cover
My head in time of fear and woes.
So may I, when my life is done,
Appear with joy before your throne.

Source: Christian Worship (1993): a Lutheran hymnal #70

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Author: Johann Rist

Rist, Johann, son of Kaspar Rist, pastor at Ottensen, near Hamburg, was born at Ottensen, March 8, 1607, and from his birth was dedicated to the ministry. After passing through the Johanneum at Hamburg and the Gymnasium Illustre at Bremen, he matriculated, in his 21st year, at the University of Rinteln, and there, under Josua Stegmann (q. v.), he received an impulse to hymn-writing. On leaving Rinteln he acted as tutor to the sons of a Hamburg merchant, accompanying them to the University of Rostock, where he himself studied Hebrew, Mathematics and also Medicine. During his residence at Rostock the terrors, of the Thirty Years War almost emptied the University, and Rist himself also lay there for weeks ill of the pestilence. After his r… 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 >

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First Line:	Help us, O Lord, behold we enter
German Title:	Hilf, Herr Jesu, lass gelingen
Author:	Johann Rist (1644)
Translator:	Catherine Winkworth (1863)
Language:	English
Copyright:	Public Domain

Hebrews 13:8
(hymns)

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Tune

ICH STERBE TÄGLICH

NEUMARK

Published in 1657 (see above) WER NUR DEN LIEBEN GOTT is also known as NEUMARK. Johann S. Bach (PHH 7) used the tune in its isorhythmic shape (all equal rhythms) in his cantatas 21, 27, 84, 88, 93, 166, 179, and 197. Many Lutheran composers have also written organ preludes on this tune. WER NUR DEN…

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O DASS ICH TAUSEND ZUNGEN HÄTTE (König)

Johann Balthaser König (b. Waltershausen, near Gotha, Germany, 1691; d. Frankfurt, Germany, 1758) composed this tune, which later became associated with Johann Mentzer's hymn "O dass ich tausend Zungen hätte" (Oh, That I Had a Thousand Voices). The harmonization is from the Wurttembergische Choral…

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Timeline

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Arrangements

Store

Piano/Organ The Organist's Library, Vol. 47 Triptych on I Come, O Savior, to Thy Table Glory in the Cross (Compelling Organ Music for Lent, Holy Week, and Easter) More Piano/Organ...
Choral Give Us, This year Come, Let Us Sing to the Lord - (Choral Score) More Choral...
Instrumental If Thou But Trust In God to Guide Thee (Variations for Flute and Organ) More Instrumental...
Handbells If Thou But Trust in God to Guide Thee If Thou But Trust in God to Guide Thee Meditation on "Neumark" More Handbells...