O how blest are ye beyond our telling

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O how blest are ye beyond our telling

Author: Simon Dach; Translator: Catherine Winkworth
Published in 3 hymnals

Representative Text

1 O how blest are ye beyond our telling
Who have passed through death, with God are dwelling,
For ever risen
From the troubles of our earthly prison.

2 Here as in a dungeon, grief hath bound us,
Cares and fear and terrors still surround us;
Our best endeavour
But in toil and heart-ache issues ever;

3 While that ye are in your mansions resting,
Safe and free at last from all molesting
No pain or sighing
There may break the rest you are enjoying.

4 Christ doth wipe away all tears and crying,
Ye possess what we must seek with sighing;
To you are chanted
Songs that ne'er to mortal ears were granted.

5 O who would not for that realm of gladness
Fain forsake this world of grief and sadness?
Who loves delaying
In a land of shadows and decaying?

6 Come, we pray Thee, from out post release us,
Quickly guide us to Thy heaven, Lord Jesus:
In Thee our spirit
Can alone true joy and rest inherit.

Source: Hymn Book: for the use of Evangelical Lutheran schools and congregations #120

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Author: Simon Dach

Dach, Simon, son of Simon Dach, interpreter to the Court of Justice at Memel, Prussia, was born at Memel, July 29,1605. He attended the Cathedral school at Königsberg, the Town school at Wittenberg, and the Gymnasium at Magdeburg. In 1626 he returned to Königsberg, where, after studying philosophy and theology at the University, he for some time acted as a private tutor. In 1633 he was appointed assistant in the Cathedral school, and in 1636 Conrector. He then, in 1639, became Professor of Poetry in the University, was five times Dean of the Philosophical Faculty, and in 1656-57 Rector of the University. He died at Königsberg, April 15, 1659 (Koch , iii. 182-191; Allg. Deutsche Biog. , iv. 685-688, &c). Dach was much of an invalid, and… 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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Text Information

Text Information

First Line:	O how blest are ye beyond our telling
German Title:	O wie selig seid ihr doch, ihr Frommen
Author:	Simon Dach
Translator:	Catherine Winkworth
Language:	English
Copyright:	Public Domain