Paul Gerhardt's song for the burial of a child, in English translation

The grieving fathers comforts himself over his now departed, blessed son:

In spite of everything you are mine and will remain mine,
who will contradict me?
But, you are no longer mine alone;
the Lord of eternal days
has the most right to you.
He demands you from me,
you, o my Son, my will,
the fullness of my heart and wishes.

Oh, if I could wish, I would want you,
you little star of my soul,
more than all the goods of the world,
I would wish for you above all and chose you.
I would say: Remain with me!
You shall be the glory of my house.
Until my dying day, I would love you.

Thus speaks my heart and means it well,
but God means it even better.
Great is my love,
but God's is even greater.
I am a father and nothing more.
But God is the head and honor of all fathers.

I long for my son;
And the one who gave him to me,
wants that he should live near his throne in heaven.
I say: Alas, my light disappears.
God says: Welcome, dear child,
I want you to be with me and I will care for you.

Oh, sweet advice, oh beautiful word,
and more holy than we think!
With God there is no evil place,
no accident, no illness,
no fear, no need, no sin;
with God, no one can suffer any sorrow.
The one God looks after and loves
can never be sad again.

We humans also work very hard
to make our loved ones beautiful.
We worry day and night
how we can lead them into an excellent calling.
Yet, rarely do things turn out
the way that we had planned them.

How many a young, pious blood,
is led astray most grievously,
through bad examples
and ends up living
not as a Christian should.
Then it will only earn God's wrath,
and on earth nothing but disdain.
The father with much sorrow,
ends up being ashamed of his child.

This I need not expect from my son
since he stands before God's face
and walks in Christ's garden,
has joy which is a good joy,
and rests from all heartache.
He hears and sees the hosts
who protect us here below.

He sees and hears the mouths of angels,
his own little mouth is helping sing.
He knows all wisdom and speaks of such things
which none of us below know yet,
and which we will not learn while here on earth,
mo matter how much we study with great labor.

Ah, if I could but stand from afar
and just listen in a little,
when your senses are raised up
to honor God's name
who is holy, holy, holy,
in whom you also are holy:
I know I would have to cry rivers of tears of joy.

I would say: stay there!
I won't complain anymore saying:
Oh, my son, were you with me:
No, I would say: Come, oh, Elijah's chariot,
come and get me quickly
also to where my child
and so many dear souls,
speak of such marvelous things.

Now, it shall be YES and shall remain,
I will stop crying for you.
You live and are happy,
see the pure sunshine,
the sun of eternal joy and rest.
There live and stay now
I will soon, God willing,
make my way with others,
to where you are.