Wer sich rächet, an dem wird sich der Herr
wieder rächen
Sixth Sunday after Trinity. Erdmann Neumeister, Geistliches Singen und Spielen (Gotha, 1711); Facs: Neumann T, p. 299; PT (Leipzig, 1725); Facs: Neumann T, p.436; Music by Bach probable (so Neumann T, p. 107). 1. Ecclus. 28:1-2; 6. Johann Agricola, verse 3 of "Ich ruf zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ," 1529?/31 (Wackernagel, III, #78f.). ?8 July 1725, Leipzig. [1. Dictum] Wer sich rächet, an dem wird sich der Herr wieder rächen, und
wird ihm seine Sünde auch behalten. Vergieb deinem Nächsten, was
er dir zu Leide gethan hat, und bitte denn, so werden dir deine
Sünde auch vergeben. [2. Recit.] (PT: Recit.) Nichts schwehrer geht dem alten Adam ein, [3. Aria] (PT: Aria) Fried' und Liebe krönt die Christen. [4. Recit.] (PT: Recit.) Ein Hund beißt in den Stein, [5. Aria] (PT: Aria) Segne (PT: Seegne) den, der dich verflucht. [6. Choral] (PT: Choral) Verleih, daß ich aus Hertzens Grund 1. Dictum Men of vengeance will face in turn the Lord’s very vengeance, and their transgression, too, will be remembered. Forgive then thy neighbor the wrongs he committed against thee, and, when thou pray’st, will unto thee thine own sin too be forgiven.2. Recit. Nought harder to the ancient Adam falls Than when he should forget and grant forgiveness. Forgiving ways bring him a bitter pain, And vengeance but sweet savor. And if there were to him a free hand given, Then would indeed the limits more than tenfold be Within which he his foe would deal chastisement. But Christian that is not. He who in the “Our Father” saith: “Forgive us our own sins!” Must say as well this sentence: "As we forgive all those who sin against us."(1) Whoever seeketh vengeance Will forfeit God’s dear grace And break upon himself The staff of condemnation. So conquer, then, thyself. For he’s no Christian called Unless he rule his will and his own master be. 3. Aria Love and concord crown the Christians, Such a crown is passing rare, And those now with goodness girded Will be the heroes yet of Christ. When one through the spirit’s calm Wrath and rage in heart suppresseth, This in truth Is the good fight fought with bravery. 4. Recit. A dog will bite the stone Which to him hath been tossed, And all of course for nothing. What purpose doth it serve For gall and rage in heart to boil? One will become his life’s own slayer, And snuff the wick of life before its time hath come; So cast thy wrath aside. For humans doth it make both bearish and wolfish, And he who would his own cause aid through vengeance Doth summon God’s own vengeance on his head. So once again: ah, conquer, then, thyself ! 5. Aria Bless the man who thee doth curse. Him who doth thy ruin seek, Him thou shalt repay with kindness And meet scornful words with silence. Doth injustice thee come near? Think then, God’s dear grace is here. He will the disgrace to honor And the curse transform to blessing. 6. Chorale Now grant that I with heart sincere Be to my foes forgiving. Forgive me also at this hour, For me my life renewing; Thy word my food let always be With which my soul to nurture, Me defending, When sorrow draweth nigh And threatens to distract me. 1. To keep the text as close as possible to the English "Lord's Prayer" it is necessary to add an extra syllable to this line. © Copyright Z. Philip Ambrose |