Deal with me, God, in mercy now

Representative Text

Deal with me, God, in mercy now,
Oh help me in my utter woe,
Thine ear to me in pity bow;
When hence my soul must quickly go,
Receive her, as her God and Friend,
For all is right if right the end.

Now, O my Lord, I follow Thee,
Safe where Thy steps I plainly trace;
Ah, now Thou art not far from me,
Though Death is with me face to face,
And I must leave the friends most dear
Who loved me well and truly here.

The body calmly sleeps in earth,
To Thee the spirit spreads her wings,
And in Thy hands, a second birth
She finds in death, to life she springs;
Here was a land of tears and woe,
Where toil and care are all we know.

Now Death and Satan, hell and sin,
And this world, all have lost their power,
The grace and hope Thou, Lord, didst win
For me, uphold me in this hour;
For on the Son my debts were laid,
And He my ransom freely paid.

Why mourn, then, that I now go hence?
Surely a blessed lot is mine;
Clothed in His spotless innocence,
Before Him as a bride I shine;
Farewell, thou evil world, farewell!
With God I rather choose to dwell.



Source: Chorale Book for England, The #191

Author: Johann Hermann Schein

Schein, Johann Hermann, son of Hieronymus Schein, pastor at Griinhain, near Annaberg, in Saxony, was born at Grünhain, Jan. 20,1586. He matriculated at the University of Leipzig in 1607, and studied there for four years. Thereafter he acted for some time as a private tutor, including two years with a family at Weissenfels. On May 21, 1615, he was appointed Capellmeister, at the court of Duke Johann Ernst, of Sachse-Weimar; and in 1616 he became cantor of I3t. Thomas's Church, and music director at Leipzig, in succession to Seth Calvisius (d. Nov. 24, 1615). This post he held till his death, at Leipzig, Nov. 19, 1630. Schein was one of the most distinguished musicians of his time, both as an original composer, and as a harmoniser of the… Go to person page >

Translator: Catherine Winkworth

Catherine Winkworth (b. Holborn, London, England, 1827; d. Monnetier, Savoy, France, 1878) is well known for her English translations of German hymns; her translations were polished and yet remained close to the original. Educated initially by her mother, she lived with relatives in Dresden, Germany, in 1845, where she acquired her knowledge of German and interest in German hymnody. After residing near Manchester until 1862, she moved to Clifton, near Bristol. A pioneer in promoting women's rights, Winkworth put much of her energy into the encouragement of higher education for women. She translated a large number of German hymn texts from hymnals owned by a friend, Baron Bunsen. Though often altered, these translations continue to be used i… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Deal with me, God, in mercy now
German Title: Mach's mit mir, Gott, nach deiner Güt'
Author: Johann Hermann Schein (1628)
Translator: Catherine Winkworth (1863)
Language: English

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Chorale Book for England, The #191

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