Holy God, We Praise Thy Name

Great God, we praise you is an ecumenical German hymn was written in 1771 by Ignaz Franz after coming perhaps from Nicetas of Remesiana Te Deum Laudamus from the 4th century. It is one of the most famous hymns and due to its catchy melody and its themes often part of Masses on special occasions, and in thanksgiving worship, about the year-end.

As one of the few songs originally Catholic, it is also often sung in Protestantism ( 1975 GL 257, EC 331, GL 2013 380). It is in its English-language form ( Holy God, we praise thy name) and came by the German Emigration to North America and one of the most widely used hymns there.

Melody

The familiar tune was printed for the first time in the Catholic Hymns (Vienna 1776). In the following years, different variations have emerged. The two commonly used today, slightly different versions go to Johann Gottfried Coating General Choral Book ( 1819) and Henry Bones Hymns Cantate (Mainz 1852) back. Every now and then proposed an alternative melodies have not been successful.

Melody of Vienna in 1776, Henry Bone 1852 ( text by Ignaz Franz 1771):

Source: praise of God # 380

Text

The text paraphrases the Latin hymn Te Deum in the liturgy of the Latin Church, and was by the priest Ignaz Franz (1719-1790) sealed. Originally the song had twelve stanzas. 1778 Franz published a different version, but could not prevail. The current version was created by the contraction of the original fifth and sixth stanza.

By Johann Gottfried layer found in 1819 the song found its way into Protestant songbooks, however, was attacked as " sacred folk tune " the Enlightenment. Only in the 20th century it was there consent, but usually heavily cut. The New Apostolic Church adapted the lyrics of the song multiple times, replaced temporarily even two verses completely.

Even in military hymnals it stood as song of thanksgiving. The military hymnal of the Evangelical Church in 1939 added a the "leader" glorifying final verse. The Hymns of the German Christians in 1941 was named after the song "Great God, we praise you" and contained one of " Jewish elements " cleaned and the Nazi ideology customized version.

The structure of the song can be divided into three sections: the anthemic a section on God the Father ( verses 1-5 ), and God the Son ( verses 6 and 7 ), and finally the requests ( verses 8-11 ).

Ecumenical version

In the church hymnals in Germany and Austria ( praise of God # 380, Lutheran Hymnal # 331 ) is the developed by the Association for ecumenical songs version:

1 Great God, we praise thee, O Lord, we praise your strength. Before you, the earth tilts and admired your works. How were you before all time, so you stay forever. 2 Everything that can praise thee, Cherubim and Seraphim you agree to the praises, all the angels who serve you, call you always without rest ' Holy, holy, holy! about. 3 Holy, Lord God of hosts, holy, Lord of the heavens armies, strong friend in need! Heaven, earth, air and seas are full of your glory; all are yours. 4 The Apostle heil'ger choir, the noble Prophet amount sent to your throne up new songs of praise and thanksgiving; the martyrs praises clear band and praise thee for ever. 5 like God the Father on the throne, praise Large, Small praise. Your only Son sings the holy church, and it honors the Holy Ghost, who is giving us his comfort. 6 You, the Father of eternal son have assumed humanity, have come from the high throne of heaven to us in the world, have us God's grace ' brought by the sin ' made ​​us free. 7 Through thee the gate of heaven to all who believe is open. You ask us before the Father if we hope childish to you; you will come to court when the last day comes. 8 Lord stand ' at your servants who ask you humbly. Purchase test your blood set us free, have suffered death for us; Take us after vollbrachtem run to you in heaven. 9 See your people grace to, help us, bless, O Lord, thy heritage; leit ' it on the right track, that the enemy may not destroy them. Make it through this time, take it up forever and ever. 10 All the days we want to praise you and glorify your name and prove to all the times you honor, praise and thanks. Rett ' from sins, rett ' from death, have mercy on us, Lord God. 11 Lord, have mercy, have mercy. Let's see your goodness; your faithfulness show, as we firmly trust in you. To you we hope alone; let us not be lost.

Swiss hymnals

The Swiss hymnals (Hymns of the Reformed churches of German Switzerland # 247 Hymns of the Roman Catholic Church of the German-speaking Switzerland No. 175, Prayer and Hymns of the Christian Catholic Church of Switzerland, No. 495) also follow this ecumenical version, but have the following deviation in the last stanza:

11 Lord, have mercy, have mercy; come to us, O Lord, thy blessing. your goodness to show all because of the promise. To you we hope alone: let us not be lost.

In Switzerland, there is also a resulting in the period after the First World War pacifist revision of Karl von Greyerz, which is provided in the Evangelical Reformed (No. 518), and the Christian Catholic Hymns particularly good for the federal Thanks, Prayer Day.

2 Our country with its splendor, its mountains, its corridors are the witnesses to your power, thy fatherly goodness traces. Everything in us worships; Great you have done to us. 3 Draw us into your kingdom of love; mach of sinners God's children; Make us unto thee, O Saviour, the same: Helpers, fighters, Winder, at all true and faithful; Great God, you made us free. 4 Lord, have mercy, have mercy your blood-stained earth; our soul longs, that you're talking about a new " career ". Send us strength and confidence, the arms of the yoke broken. 5 spark within us to your fire, that the heart burn believer and, free from fear and delusion, we as humans recognize us, which extends over sea and land rich firm hand of peace. Mach 6 from hate the ghosts free, free from burden of sin and chains; breaks in two of Mammon empire; only you can save mankind. Save us from guilt and distress, Heilger spirit, barmherz'ger God.