ii. Straf mich nicht in deinem Zorn. [Psalm vi.] Of the origin of this hymn, J. C. Wetzel, i. 46, and ii. 404, relates what seems rather an apocryphal story to this effect:—
Johann Rosenmuller, while music director at Leipzig, had been guilty of improper practices with some of his scholars. He was thrown into prison, but having made his escape, went to Hamburg. Thence he sent a petition for restoration to the Elector Johann Georg at Dresden, and to support his petition enclosed this hymn, which Albinus had written for him, along with the beautiful melody by himself (in the Irish Church Hymnal, 1876; called Nassau, in the Darmstadt Gesang-Buch 1698, p. 49).
This, if correct, would date it about 1655, and Koch, iii. 398, says it was printed separately in that year; The earliest hymn-book in which it is found is Luppius's Andachtig Singender Christen Mund, Wesel., 1692, p. 20. It is a beautiful hymn of Penitence (by Miss Winkworth assigned to Ash Wednesday). Included as No. 273 in Freylinghausen's Gesang-Buch, 1704, and recently as No. 535 in the Berlin Geistliche Liedersegen, ed. 1863, in 7 stanzas of 8 lines. The translations in common use are:—
2. Not in anger, mighty God. A good translation omitting stanzas ii., iv., as No. 41 in Miss Winkworth's Chorale Book for England, 1863, and thence as No. 205 in the Temple Hymn Book 1867, as No. 323 in the Free Church Hymn Book 1882, and omitting the translation of st. vi., as No. 78 in the Upp. & Sherb. School Hymn Book 1874. In America as No. 398 in the Evangelical Hymnal, New York, 1880, in full.
--Excerpts from John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)
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 >
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