Here is my translation of "Dicimus grates tibi summe rerum Conditor" (P. Melanchthon, 1539) from the Latin rather than from the German paraphrase by Paul Eber (†1569; translations of that have been made by Seiss and Cronenwett). This one preserves the 11.11.11.5 meter. I provide the melody from Lossius Psalmodia (1579):
THANKS UNTO THEE, O highest Lord, Creator, We for Thy faithful ministers now render, Whose host Thine hand as flames of fire created, Holy and blameless.
2. Of Thine own light they shine with radiant glory, Ever Thy face with raptured gaze beholding, From Thee Thy words and heav'nly wisdom drawing, Filled by their Fountain.
3. Thou dost not suffer this Thy holy people Idly to throng, nor futilely to flutter Round the vast realms of ether, nor unheeding Through winds to frolic.
4. Them hast Thou bidden to be Christ's attendants, And to defend the gath'ring of the godly, Duly revering all Thy holy statutes, Tending their teaching.
5. For hotly burning with ungodly hatred, Against Thy camp, the dragon, ever furious, Wages his war, by whom both sin and dying This world first entered.
6. Here seeks he naught but ruin and destruction Of house and city, church and congregation, And every thought of Law and fitting conduct:— Fain would he raze them.
7. Yet o'er us watch the heav'nly troops of angels Following Christ, their Captain and Commander, Curbing the cruel weapons of the dragon, Where'er he rages.
8. Angels saved Lot from Sodom's devastation, Harbored Elisha from the hostile armies; Ringed round by angels, he beheld unfearing Banners of battle.
9. Safe mid the circling lions stood the prophet Daniel, surrounded by a hedge of angels; Thus doth God ever by His faithful servants Keep us all covered.
10. Of Thy protection we would now be mindful, As unto Thee our choirs, their voices blending With choirs angelic, thankful anthems render, O kind Creator.
11. Set these Thy watchmen o'er Thy temple ever, And o'er Thy people, which esteems as sacred The Word of Christ, Thy Son; this we beseech Thee With all devotion.
Translation © Matthew Carver, 2011.
LATIN
1. Dicimus grates tibi, summe rerum Conditor, gnato tua quod ministros Flammeos finxit manus angelorum Agmina pura.
2. Qui tuae lucis radiis vibrantes Te vident laetis oculis, tuasque Hauriunt voces, sapientiaeque Fonte fruuntur.
3. Hos nec [non] ignavum sinis [finis] esse vulgus, Nec per ingentes volitare frustra Aetheris tractus, temere nec inter Ludere ventos.
4. Sed jubes Christo comites adesse Et pios caetus hominum tueri, Qui tuas leges venerantur, atque Discere curant.
5. Impiis ardens odiis et ira Nam tuis castris draco semper infert Bella, qui primis scelus atque mortem Intulit orbi.
6. Hic domos, urbes, tua templa, gentes Et tuae legis monumenta tota Et bonos mores abolere tentat Funditus omnes.
7. Interim sed nos regit angelorum, Quae ducem Christum sequitur, caterva, Atque grassantis reprimit cruenta Arma draconis.
8. Angeli Lothon Sodomae tuentur, Inter infestos Elisaeus [C…] hostes, Angelis cinctus, nihil extimescit Bellica signa.
9. Tutus est inter medios leones, Angelis s(a)eptus Daniel propheta: Sic tegit semper Deus his ministris Omnia nostra.
10. Hoc tuum munus celebramus una, Et tibi noster chorus angelique Gratias dicunt simul accinentes, Conditor alme.
11. Et tuo templo vigiles ut addas Angelos semper, populoque, Gnati Qui tui verbum colit, obsecramus Pectore toto.
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