English translations of Zwei Lieder von Friedrich Oser für vierstimmigen Männerchor, opus 8

by Carl North (1859 - 1914)

1. Ist's Gottes Will' und Rath  [sung text not yet checked]
by Carl North (1859 - 1914), "Ist's Gottes Will' und Rath", op. 8 no. 1 [ ttbb chorus ], Bern & Fribourg: Kirchhoff
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ist's Gottes Will' und Rath, 
Daß Zwei sich lieben, 
Nie ist er früh und spat 
Mit Hilfe fern geblieben, 
  Und harret Jahre lang 
  Die Lieb' im Herzen bang, 
Lobpreisend wirst du's sehen, 
Was Gott will muß geschehen. 

Wohl kommen Berg und Thal 
Niemals zusammen, 
Doch Zwei, die Gottes Wahl 
In Minne ließ entflammen. 
  Ihm ist kein Weg zu weit, 
  Ihm ist kein Meer zu breit, 
Lobpreisend wirst du's sehen, 
Was Gott will muß geschehen.
 
Und wärn die Menschen auch 
Dir stracks entgegen, 
Es geht nach altem Brauch 
Gott fort auf seinen Wegen. 
  An seiner Liebe Schwur 
  Stärk deine Treue nur, 
Lobpreisend wirst du's sehen, 
Was Gott will muß geschehen. 

Ja, ist es Gottes Rath, 
Daß Zwei sich lieben, 
Stets ist es früh und spat 
Bei seinem Rath geblieben. 
  Trau' ihm nur ganz allein, 
  Und gieng's durch Leid und Pein, 
Lobpreisend wirst du's sehen, 
Was Gott will muß geschehen.

Text Authorship:

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Confirmed with Liederbuch von Friedrich Oser, 1842-1874. Mit einem biographischen Verzeichnis der Componisten, Basel: Benno Schwabe, Verlagsbuchhandlung, 1875, pages 172-173.


by Friedrich Heinrich Oser (1820 - 1891)
1. If it is God's will and counsel
Language: English 
If it is God's will and counsel
That two shall love each other,
Early and late He never remained
Far away with His help,
  And though for many years
  Love has abided anxiously in your heart,
With praises you shall see,
What God wills must happen.

To be sure, mountain and valley
Shall never come together,
But two whom God's choice permitted
To come alight with love shall.
  For Him no distance is too long,
  For Him no ocean is too wide,
With praises you shall see,
What God wills must happen.

And even if mankind were 
Straightaway against you,
God, after the old custom, goes
Onward upon his pathways.
  By the vow of His love
  Only strengthen your faithfulness,
With praises you shall see,
What God wills must happen.

Yes, if it is God's counsel
That two shall love each other,
Early and late His counsel ever
Remained immoveable.
  Only trust in Him alone,
  And though you pass through sorrow and pain,
With praises you shall see,
What God wills must happen.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2026 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.
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This text was added to the website: 2026-02-25
Line count: 32
Word count: 173

Translation © by Sharon Krebs
2. Freud und Leid mit dir zu theilen  [sung text not yet checked]
by Carl North (1859 - 1914), "Freud und Leid mit dir zu theilen", op. 8 no. 2 [ ttbb chorus ], Bern & Fribourg: Kirchhoff
Language: German (Deutsch) 
  Freud' und Leid mit dir zu theilen,
O wie bin ich jederzeit
Ohne Wanken und Verweilen,
Herzgeliebte, froh bereit!
  Hand in Hand mit dir, mit dir 
  Lauter Lust erblühet mir! 

  Führt zwei Seelen Gott zusammen 
Voller Huld, muß Lieb' und Treu' 
Auch im Sturm nur heller flammen, 
Und verklären sich auf's neu! 
  Hand in Hand, mit dir, mit dir 
  Nimmer, nimmer grauet mir! 

  Schau' ins' Herz mir! Was du schauest,
Alles, Alles ist nun dein!
Jeder Blick, dem froh du trauest,
Jeder Odem soll es sein!
  Hand in Hand mit dir, mit dir 
  Ewig, ewig, dort und hier!

Text Authorship:

See other settings of this text.

Confirmed with Liederbuch von Friedrich Oser, 1842-1874. Mit einem biographischen Verzeichnis der Componisten, Basel: Benno Schwabe, Verlagsbuchhandlung, 1875, pages 150-151.


by Friedrich Heinrich Oser (1820 - 1891)
2. With you!
Language: English 
  To share joy and sorrow with you,
Oh, how I am at all times,
Without faltering and delay,
Happily prepared, beloved of my heart!
  Hand in hand with you, with you --
  Sheer joy blooms for me!

  When God, full of beneficence, brings
Two souls together, love and faithfulness must
Only flame forth the more brightly in the storm,
And must glorify themselves anew!
  Hand in hand, with you, with you
  I am never, never afraid!

  Look into my heart! Everything you see,
All, all is now yours!
Every glance that you gladly trust,
Every breath shall be yours!
  Hand in hand with you, with you
  Eternally, eternally, there and here!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2025 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: 

Based on:

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website: 2025-12-24
Line count: 18
Word count: 111

Translation © by Sharon Krebs