WE PLOUGH THE FIELD AND SCATTER – EMHB 963
Author: Matthias Claudius (1740-1815)
Translation from German: Jane Montgomery Campbell (1817-1878)
Introduction:
This popular Harvest Hymn has its origin from Germany. “Wir pflugen and Wir Streun/Den Semen auf das Land” (We plough the field and scatter). It was written by Matthias Claudius who was born in Reinfield near Lu beck. He was the son of a Lutheran Pastor and was originally destined for the same profession. He however changed to journalism having been influenced by the University of Jena where he studied. He edited several newspapers, wrote poetry and was a close friend of the Poet Geothe. After a period of atheism he renewed his Christian faith. He wrote this Hymn when he was Editor of the Local Newspaper in Hesse Darmstat where he also served as a Commissioner of Agriculture. This Hymn which he wrote in 1783 first appeared in a play which he wrote about a Harvest Thanksgiving in a North German Village. It was closely based on a peasants’ song which he heard sung at the home of one of the farmers. Initially Matthias wrote seventeen verses with a refrain for each verse but when the Hymn was published in a collection of melodies for schools in 1800, it was shortened to six verses with a chorus.
It was this shortened version of the Hymn which was translated into English in 1861 by Jane Montgomery Campbell (1817-1878). She too was the daughter of the Vicar of St. James Paddington. She lived in Bovey Tracey Devon, and met an unfortunate death in a carriage accident while driving across Dartmoor. The tune ‘Wir Pflugen’ or ‘Dresden’ was written by J. A. P. Schultz (1747-1800) and set to this Hymn in 1800.
EMHB 963
We plough the fields, and scatter
The good seed on the land,
But it is fed and watered
By God’s almighty hand;
He sends the snow in winter,
The warmth to swell the grain
The breezes, and the sunshine,
And soft refreshing rain.
All good gifts around us
Are sent from heaven above:
Then thank the Lord, O thank the Lord,
For all His love.
He only is the Maker
Of all things near and far;
He paints the wayside flower,
He lights the evening star;
The winds and waves obey Him,
By Him the birds are fed:
Much more to us, His children,
He gives our daily bread.
We thank Thee then, O Father,
For all things bright and good,
The seed-time and the harvest,
Our life, our health, our food,
Accept the gifts we offer
For all Thy love imparts,
And, what Thou most desirest,
Our humble, thankful hearts.
Amen.
Author: Matthias Claudius (1740-1815)
Translation from German: Jane Montgomery Campbell (1817-1878)
Introduction:
This popular Harvest Hymn has its origin from Germany. “Wir pflugen and Wir Streun/Den Semen auf das Land” (We plough the field and scatter). It was written by Matthias Claudius who was born in Reinfield near Lu beck. He was the son of a Lutheran Pastor and was originally destined for the same profession. He however changed to journalism having been influenced by the University of Jena where he studied. He edited several newspapers, wrote poetry and was a close friend of the Poet Geothe. After a period of atheism he renewed his Christian faith. He wrote this Hymn when he was Editor of the Local Newspaper in Hesse Darmstat where he also served as a Commissioner of Agriculture. This Hymn which he wrote in 1783 first appeared in a play which he wrote about a Harvest Thanksgiving in a North German Village. It was closely based on a peasants’ song which he heard sung at the home of one of the farmers. Initially Matthias wrote seventeen verses with a refrain for each verse but when the Hymn was published in a collection of melodies for schools in 1800, it was shortened to six verses with a chorus.
It was this shortened version of the Hymn which was translated into English in 1861 by Jane Montgomery Campbell (1817-1878). She too was the daughter of the Vicar of St. James Paddington. She lived in Bovey Tracey Devon, and met an unfortunate death in a carriage accident while driving across Dartmoor. The tune ‘Wir Pflugen’ or ‘Dresden’ was written by J. A. P. Schultz (1747-1800) and set to this Hymn in 1800.
EMHB 963
We plough the fields, and scatter
The good seed on the land,
But it is fed and watered
By God’s almighty hand;
He sends the snow in winter,
The warmth to swell the grain
The breezes, and the sunshine,
And soft refreshing rain.
All good gifts around us
Are sent from heaven above:
Then thank the Lord, O thank the Lord,
For all His love.
He only is the Maker
Of all things near and far;
He paints the wayside flower,
He lights the evening star;
The winds and waves obey Him,
By Him the birds are fed:
Much more to us, His children,
He gives our daily bread.
We thank Thee then, O Father,
For all things bright and good,
The seed-time and the harvest,
Our life, our health, our food,
Accept the gifts we offer
For all Thy love imparts,
And, what Thou most desirest,
Our humble, thankful hearts.
Amen.
Adesegun Akitoye
http://www.repeatrichrelief.com
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