Petrus Herbert › Texts

Short Name: Petrus Herbert
Full Name: Herbert, Petrus, 1530-1571
Birth Year: 1530
Death Year: 1571

Herbert, Petrus, seems to have been a native of or resident at Fulnek in Moravia. He was ordained priest of the Brethren's Unity in 1562, became a member of the Select Council in 1567, and was latterly Consenior of the Unity. By the Unity he was entrusted with many important missions. He was sent as a deputy to confer with Calvin: and again in 1562 to arrange with Duke Christoph of Württemberg for the education at Tübingen of young men from the Bohemian Brethren. He was also one of the deputies sent to Vienna to present the revised form of the Brethren's Confession of Faith to the Emperor Maximilian II. in 1564, and in 1566 to present their new German Hymn Book. He died at Eibenschütz in 1571 (Koch, ii. 414, Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie, xiii. 263-264, &c.). Herbert was one of the principal compilers of the enlarged edition of the Brethren's German Hymn Book published in 1566 as their Kirchengeseng, and contributed to it some 90 hymns. In the ed. of 1639 there are 104 hymns marked as his. His hymns are distinguished by simplicity and beauty of style. A number are translations from the Bohemian. His hymns translated into English include:—
i. Die Nacht ist kommen drin wir ruhen sollen. [Evening] Written probably under the pressure of persecution and oppression. In the G. 2?., 1566, as above, in 5 stanzas of 7 lines (the last stanza being a versification of the Lord's Prayer), and thence in Wackernagel, iv. p. 442, and the Unverfälschter Liedersegen, 1851, No. 515. In J. H. Schein's Cantiona, 1627, it appears as No. 99, with an additional stanza not by Herbert, which reads—

Denn wir kein besser Zuflucht konnen haben,
,Als zu dir, 0 Herr, in dem Himmel droben,
Du veriest keinen, gibst Acht auff die deinen.
Die dich recht meyuen,"

This stanza is included as stanza v. in the version in Bunsen's Versuch, 1833, No. 43. Translated as:—
1. The night is come, wherein at last we rest, in full from Bunsen by Miss Winkworth in her Lyra Germanica, 2nd Ser., 1858, p. 77, repeated as No. 105 in R. Minton Taylor's Collection, 1872.
2. Now God be with us, for the night is closing, a good translation from Bunsen, in the original metre, by Miss Winkworth, as No. 170 in her Chorale Book for England, 1863, and repeated in her Christian Singers of Germany, 1869, p. 139. This version has been included in various recent collections, though generally abridged or altered, as in the Hymnary, 1872; Thring's Collection, 1882; and in America in the Evangelical Hymnal, N. Y., 1880, &c. In Laudes Domini, N.Y., 1884, it is in two parts (Nos. 209-210), the second beginning, "Father, Thy name be praised, Thy kingdom given." This is stanza vi. with an added doxology, as in the Hymnary, 1872.
Other translations are:—
(1) "The night comes apace," as No. 293 in pt. i. of the Moravian Hymn Book, 1754. (2) “Lo! evening's shades to sleep invite," by H. J. Buckoll, 1842, p. 64.
ii. 0 Christenmensch, merk wie sichs halt. [Faith] 1566, as above, in 18 stanzas of 4 lines, repeated in Wackernagel, iv. p. 433. In Bunsen's Versuch , 1833, No. 390 Allgemeine Gesang-Buch, 1846, No. 130), the hymn begins with stanza iii. altered to "Der Glaub’ ist ein lebend'ge Kraft," and consists of stanzas iii., viii., xi., xii., xvi., xviii. Bunsen calls it "a noble confession of the true Christian faith." Translated as:—
Faith is a living power from heaven. A good translation from Bunsen by Miss Winkworth in her Lyra Germanica, 2nd ser., 1858, p. 160, and thence in her Chorale Book for England, 1863. It is repeated, more or less altered and abridged, in Kennedy, 1863; and in America in the Presbyterian Hymnal, 1874, Baptist Service of Song, 1871, &c.
ii. Hymns not in English common use:—
iii. Des Herren Wort bleibt in Ewigkeit. [Holy Scripture.] 1566, as above, in 25 stanzas, and in Wackernagel, iv. p. 432. Translated as "God's holy Word, which ne’er shall cease," by J. Swertner, as No. 3 in the Moravian Hymn Book1789 (1849, No. 2).
iv. Fürchtet Gott, 0 lieben Leut. [Martyrs.] 1566, as above, in 13 stanzas, and in Wackernagel, iv. p. 429. The translations are, (i.) "O love God, ye people dear," as No. 267 in pt. i. of the Moravian Hymn Book, 1754. (2) "O exalt and praise the Lord" (from the version in the Brüder Gesang-Buch1778, beginning "Liebet Gott"), as No. 871 in the Moravian Hymn Book, 1789 (1886, No. 1306).
v. Lasst uns mit Lust und Freud aus Olauben singen. [Eternal Life.] A fine hymn on the Joys of Heaven. 1566, as above, in 12 stanzas, and in Wackernagel, iv. p. 447. Translated as "In faith we sing this song of thank-fulness," by Mrs. Bevan, 1858, p. 34.
vi. 0 höchster Trost, heiliger Geist [Whitsuntide.] 1566, as above, in 13 stanzas, and Wackernagel, iv. p. 407. The translations are, (1) "O highest comfort, Holy Ghost," as No. 262 in pt. i. of the Moravian Hymn Book, 1754. (2) "O Comforter, God Holy Ghost," as No. 203 in the Moravian Hymn Book, 1789 (1849, No. 265).
Besides the above a number of hymns by Herbert (all of which appeared in the Kirchengeseng, 1566, and are included in Wackernagel’s vol. iv.) were translated in pt. i. of the Moravian Hymn Book, 1754. The numbers in the 1754 are 166, 259, 263, 264, 265, 266, 274, 277, 281, 287, and 294. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.]

-- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology


Texts by Petrus Herbert (64)sort descendingAsAuthority LanguagesInstances
Ach, ach, auweh des großen Leids!Petrus Herbert (Author)German2
Ach Gott, man mag wohl in diesen TagenPetrus Herbert (Author)German1
Ach Gott, wie Not ist dem MenschenPetrus Herbert (Author)German1
Auf dass wir recht erkennen die LastPetrus Herbert (Author)German1
Christo dem Herrn sei Lob und DankPetrus Herbert (Author)German1
Chwal, dziękuj BoguPetrus Herbert (Author)Polish2
Denk, Mensch, wie dich dein Heiland liebetPetrus Herbert (Author)German3
Die Nacht ist kommen, drin [da] wir ruhen sollenPetrus Herbert (Author)German4
Du bist der erstgegorne SohnPetrus Herbert (Author)German1
Es hebt sich, spricht Gottes Sohn, groß FreudePetrus Herbert (Author)German1
Faith is a living power from heavenP. Herbert (Author)English43
Father, Thy name be praised, Thy kingdom givenP. Herbert (Author)English4
Frohlock heut, Christgläubige SeelPetrus Herbert (Author)German1
Frohlockt und rühmt mit Herz und MundPetrus Herbert (Author)German1
Fürchtet Gott, O lieben LeutP. Herbert (Author)German3
God's holy word, which ne'er shall ceaseP. Herbert (Author)2
Gott, unserm Herrn, sei ewig Lob und DankPetrus Herbert (Author)German1
Gottes Gemein beid groß und kleinPetrus Herbert (Author)German1
Gottes Lieb ohn' alle MassPetrus Herbert (Author)German2
Heilig und zart, ist Christi MenschheitPetrus Herbert (Author)German1
Heiliger, ewiger Gott, heiliger Herr ZebaothPetrus Herbert (Author)German1
Herr Christ, des Lebens Quell, voller GnadPetrus Herbert (Author)German1
Herr Gott, send deinen GeistPetrus Herbert (Author)German1
Hochgelobet seist du, Jesu Christ, Gottes SohnPetrus Herbert (Author)German1
Ich fahr auf, spricht Christ der HerrPetrus Herbert (Author)German1
Ihr Himmel lobt Gott den HerrenPetrus Herbert (Author)German1
Jesu Kreuz, Leiden und PeinP. Herbert (Author)German5
Jesus Christus leid [litt] den TodPetrus Herbert (Author)German1
Jesus, unser lieber HerrPetrus Herbert (Author)German1
Jezusa umęczebuePetrus Herbert (Author)Polish3
Komm, Schöpfer, heiliger GeistPetrus Herbert (Author)German1
Lasst uns mit herzlicher BegierPetrus Herbert (Author)German1
Lasst uns mit Lust und Freud aus Glauben singenPetrus Herbert (Author)German2
Lob sei dir, gütiger GottPetrus Herbert (Author)German5
Merk' auf, o Christ, wie sichs werh'ltPeter Herbert (Author)German2
Na loze jdouceP. Herbert (Author)2
Now God be with us, for the night is closingP. Herbert (Author)English120
Now God be with us, for the night is fallingPetrus Herbert (Author)English3
Now it is evening, time to rest from laborPetrus Herbert (Author)English2
O Christenmensch, merk wie sichs hältPetrus Herbert (Author)German1
O Comforter, God, Holy GhostP. Herbert (Author)English6
O exalt and praise the LordPetrus Herbert (Author)7
O God, be with us, for night is fallingP. Herbert (Author)2
O Gott, erbarm dich mein, wasch mich von SünderP. Herbert (Author)German1
O Gott Vater der BarmherzigkeitP. Herbert (Author)German1
O Heiland Jesu Christ der du von deinem VaterPetrus Herbert (Author)German1
O höchster Trost, heiliger GeistPeter Herbert (Author)German2
O milder Gott, Allerhöchster Hort: Wir rufen zu dir in unsrer NotPetrus Herbert (Author)German5
O wie lieblich, ist diese OsterzeitPetrus Herbert (Author)German1
O wie süß' ist dein GedächtnisPetrus Herbert (Author)German1
Praise God for everP. Herbert (Author)2
Preis Lob und Dank, sei Gott dem HerrenP. Herbert (Author)German2
Preiset mit Freuden, von ganzem GemüteP. Herbert (Author)German1
Schau', wie lieblich und gut istsPetrus Herbert (Author)German1
Sei Lob und Dank dem Herren ChristPetrus Herbert (Author)German2
Singt ein frölich Lied zu ehren unsernPetrus Herbert (Author)German1
Singt mit Freuden, lobt und preistPetrus Herbert (Author)German1
The night is come where in at last we restP. Herbert (Author)English9
The only Son of God on highPetrus Herbert (Author)English2
The word of God which never shall ceasePetrus Herbert (Author)English5
Tro er en himmelsk livsens magtP. Herbert (Author)1
Von Ewigkeit war Gott alleinPetrus Herbert (Author)German1
Vor Herre Gud og SkabermandPetrus Herbert (Author)Norwegian4
Wer das ewig' Heil liebetPetrus Herbert (Author)German1
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