Choir for 4 voices
Soprano solo
Alto solo
Tenor solo
Bass solo
Trumpet I + II + III
Bassdrum
Oboe I + II + III
Violin I + II
Viola
Violoncello piccolo
Basso continuo

Be praised now, O Lord Jesus,
At this the newborn year
For thy help which thou showest
In all our dread and stress,
That we ourselves have witnessed
The new and joyful age
Which full of blessing bideth,
And lasting happiness;
That we in goodly stillness
The old year have completed.
Ourselves we'd thee surrender
For now and evermore,
Protect life, soul and body
Henceforth through all the year!

Let us, O highest God, the year accomplish
That it be ended even as it was begun.
Beside us let thy hand abide,
That later, when the year hath closed,
We be midst blessing's rich excess,
As now, a hallelujah singing.

Ah, thine own hand, thy blessing must alone
The A and O, beginning and the ending be!
Our whole life holdest thou within thy hand,
The number of our days with thee stands written;
Thine eye doth watch o'er town and land;
Thou tellest all our weal and knowest all our sorrow,
Ah, give from both now,
Whate'er thy wisdom will, wherever thy great mercy thee hath prompted.

For just as thou hast noble concord
To this our flesh and state allotted,
So grant my soul as well thy gracious, healing word.
If us this health befalleth,
We shall be here most blessed
And thine elected there!

Bass: But since the foe both day and night
To do us harm doth watch
And our tranquillity would ruin,
May it please thee, O Lord our god, to hear us
When we in sacred congregation beg thee:
Choir: That Satan underneath our feet be trampled.
Bass: And we'll forever to thy praise
As thine elect belong to thee
And also after cross and passion
From here depart into great glory.

Thine is alone the honor,
Thine is alone the praise;
To bear the cross now teach us,
And rule our ev'ry deed,
Till we depart with rapture
To heav'n's eternal realm,
Into true peace and gladness,
The saints of God made like.
With us deal in the meanwhile
According to thy pleasure:
Thus sing today in earnest
The Christ-believing throngs
And wish with voice and spirit
A new and blessed year.

Galatians 3: 23-29

Luke 2: 21