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Das Jahr geht still zu Ende, Nun sei auch still mein Herz. In Gottes treue Hände Leg ich nun Freud und Schmerz, Und was dies Jahr umschlossen, Was Gott der Herr nur weiß, Die Thränen, die geflossen, Die Wunden brennend heiß. Warum es so viel Leiden, So kurzes Glück nur giebt? Warum denn immer scheiden, Wo wir so sehr geliebt? So manches Aug gebrochen Und mancher Mund nun stumm, Der erst noch hold gesprochen - Du armes Herz, warum? Daß nicht vergessen werde, Was man so gern vergißt: Daß diese arme Erde Nicht unsre Heimat ist. Es hat der Herr uns allen, Die wir auf ihn getauft, In Zions goldnen Hallen Ein Heimatrecht erkauft. Hier gehen wir und streuen Die Thränensaat ins Feld, Dort werden wir uns freuen Im sel'gen Himmelszelt. Wir sehnen uns hienieden Dorthin ins Vaterhaus Und wissen's: die geschieden, Die ruhen dort schon aus. O, das ist sichres Gehen Durch diese Erdenzeit: Nur immer vorwärts sehen Mit sel'ger Freudigkeit. Wird uns durch Grabeshügel Der klare Blick verbaut, Herr, gieb der Seele Flügel, Daß sie hinüberschaut! Hilf du uns durch die Zeiten Und mache fest das Herz; Geh selber uns zur Seiten Und führ uns heimatwärts! Und ist es uns hienieden So öde, so allein, O laß in deinem Frieden Uns hier schon selig sein!
About the headline (FAQ)
Confirmed with Gesangbuch für die evangelisch-lutherische Landeskirche des Königreichs Sachsen, Leipzig & Dresden: In Kommission bei B.G. Teubner, 1883, page 36, number 63.
Authorship:
- by Eleanore, Fürstin (Princess) Reuß, née Stolberg-Wernigerode (1835 - 1903), no title [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Johannes Pache (1857 - 1897), "Zum Sylvester", published 1895 [voice and piano or organ], from Zwei Lieder für 1 Singstimme mit Pianoforte oder Orgel, no. 1, Leipzig, Hug & Co. [text not verified]
Available translations, adaptations, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , title 1: "For New Year's Eve", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2014-01-03
Line count: 48
Word count: 217
The year draws quietly to a close, Now you, too, my heart, become quiet! In God's faithful hands I now lay joy and sorrow, And what this year has encompassed, What only the Lord God knows, The tears that flowed, The burningly hot wounds. Why is there so much suffering, Only such short happiness? Why must we always part When we have loved so ardently? Many an eye now closed in death And many a pair of lips now mute, That only just spoke lovingly - You poor heart, why? So that it may not be forgotten, What one forgets so gladly: That this poor earth Is not our home. For all of us who are baptized In His name, the Lord Has purchased a citizenship In Zion's golden halls. We wander here and strew The seeds of tears in the field, There we shall rejoice In the blessed canopy of heaven. Down here we yearn to be There in our Father's house And we know that those who have passed on Are already resting there. Oh that gives certainty to our wandering Through this time on earth: To look only forward With blessed joy. If the mounds of graves Block our clear gaze, Lord, give the soul wings To be able to look beyond them! Help us through these times And make our hearts steadfast; Walk beside us Thyself And lead us homeward! And if down here it seems to us So desolate, so lonely, Oh let us in Thy peace Already be happy here.
Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2014 by Sharon Krebs, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Eleanore, Fürstin (Princess) Reuß, née Stolberg-Wernigerode (1835 - 1903), no title
This text was added to the website: 2014-01-03
Line count: 48
Word count: 256