The Savior,
renewing the old man,
comes to Baptism,
that by water
He might recover
the nature which was corrupted,
wrapping us
in an incorruptible garment.
--sung before and after Psalm 93
[trans. Matt Carver]
The Forerunner John
exults with the Jordan.
When I baptized the Lord,
The orb of the world exulted,
Remission was made for our sins,
He sanctified the water.
With all things we cry out:
Have mercy on us!
--sung before and after the Benedictus
[Both from the Magdeburg Cathedral Book of 1613]
5 comments:
The Savior,
renewing the old man,
comes to Baptism,
?????
Ya...doesn't sound quite right. I wonder if something might be lost in translation?
It struck me too. It begins in the original:
Veterem hominem renovans Salvator.
I think the meaning is simply He has come to make new the old (fallen) humanity.
[typo in first attempt] Yes I agree, it is a participle of intent, purpose, or it is thematic. The literal translation does not make that clear in English. What if you say, "The Savior, in order to renew, comes…" or "The Savior renews the old man by coming to Baptism…"?
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