The golden sunbeams with their joyous gleams

Representative Text

The golden sunbeams with their joyous gleams,
Are kindling o'er earth, her life and mirth,
Shedding forth lovely and heart-cheering light;
Through the dark hours' chill I lay silent and still,
But risen at length to gladness and strength,
I gaze on the heavens all glowing and bright.

Mine eyes now behold Thy works, that of old
And ever are telling to all men here dwelling,
How great is Thy glory, how wondrous Thy power;
They tell of the home where the faithful shall come,
Who depart to that peace that can change not or cease,
From earth where all passeth as passes the hour.

O come let us raise our voices, and praise
The Maker of all, at His feet let us fall,
Offering to Him again all He hath given,
The best that is ours, our hearts and our powers;
Glad songs that we sing Him, thanks that we bring Him,
These are the incense most grateful to Heaven.

Evening and morning thus ever he cares for us,
Blessing, renewing, warding off ruin,
These are His works, thus His goodness we prove;
When we are sleeping, watch He is keeping,
Whe we arise, He gladdens our eyes
With the sunshine of mercy, the glow of His love. <
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All passeth away, but God liveth aye,
And changeth in nought; eternal His thought,
His Word and His Will are steadfast and sure;
Never His grace nor His mercy decays,
It heals the sad heart from its deadliest smart,
Giving it life that shall ever endure.

God, Thou my crown! forgiving look down,
And hide from Thy face through Thy pitying grace,
All my transgressions against Thy command;
Henceforth oh rule me, guide me and school me,
As Thou seest fit; my ways I commit
All to Thy pleasure, Thy merciful hand.

Crosses and sorrow may end with the morrow,
Stormiest seas shall sink into peace,
The wild winds are hushed, and the sunshine returns;
So fulness of rest, and the calm of the blest,
Are waiting me there, in that garden most fair,
That home for which daily my spirit here yearns.

Source: Lyra Germanica: The Christian Year #86

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Author: Paul Gerhardt

Paul Gerhardt (b. Gräfenheinichen, Saxony, Germany, 1607; d. Lubben, Germany, 1676), famous author of Lutheran evangelical hymns, studied theology and hymnody at the University of Wittenberg and then was a tutor in Berlin, where he became friends with Johann Crüger. He served the Lutheran parish of Mittenwalde near Berlin (1651-1657) and the great St. Nicholas' Church in Berlin (1657-1666). Friederich William, the Calvinist elector, had issued an edict that forbade the various Protestant groups to fight each other. Although Gerhardt did not want strife between the churches, he refused to comply with the edict because he thought it opposed the Lutheran "Formula of Concord," which condemned some Calvinist doctrines. Consequently, he was 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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Text Information

Text Information

First Line:	The golden sunbeams with their joyous gleams
German Title:	Die goldene Sonne
Author:	Paul Gerhardt
Translator:	Catherine Winkworth (1855)
Meter:	Irregular
Language:	English
Copyright:	Public Domain

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Notes

Die güldne Sonne. P. Gerhardt. [Morning. ] Lauxmann, in Koch, viii. 185, calls this "A splendid hymn of our poet, golden as the sun going forth in his beauty, full of force and of blessed peace in the Lord, full of sparkling thoughts of God." It first appeared as No. 25 in the Dritte Dutzet, Berlin, 1666, of Ebeling's edition of his Geistliclie Andachten, in 12 stanzas of 10 lines, entitled "Morning Blessing." In the editions of his Geistliche Lieder by Wackernagel, No. 98, and by Bachmann, No. 101. Included in J. Crüger's Praxis pietatis melica, 1672, and later editions, and recently as No. 449 in the Unverfälschter Liedersegen, 1851. The beautiful melody (in the Irish Church Hymnal called “Franconia") is by Ebeling, and appeared with the hymn 1666, as above.
Translations in common use:—
1. The golden sunbeams with their joyous gleams. A translation of stanzas i.-iv., viii., ix., xii., by Miss Winkworth in her Lyra Germanica, 1st Series, 1855, p. 214, repeated, omitting the translations of stanzas ii., viii., ix., as No. 814, in Kennedy, 1863.
[Rev. James Mearns, M.A.]