Suggested tune: INNSBRUCK (NUN RUHEN ALLE)
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O Welt, sieh hier dein Leben. P. Gerhardt. [Passiontide.] First published in the 3rd edition, 1648, of Crüger's Praxis pietatis melica, No. 119, in 16 stanzas of 8 lines, reprinted in Wackernagel's edition of his Geistliche Lieder, No. 15; Bachmann's edition, No. 8, and included as No. 113 in the Unverfälschter Liedersegen, 1851. It is a thoughtful meditation on the Passion. Stanzas iii.-v. were favourites with J. S. Bach and used by him in his St. Matthew and St. John Passion Music . Translated as:—
1. Extended on a cursed tree. A free translation in L.M. of stanzas i., iii., iv., vi., viii.-xi., xvi., by J. Wesley, in Hymns & Sacred Poems , 1740 (Poetical Works, 1868-72, vol. i. p. 232), and thence, as No. 23, in the Wesleyan Hymn Book, 1780, and since in other hymnals of the Methodist family. Included in full, as No. 402, in the 1857 edition of Mercer's Church Psalter & Hymn Book (Ox. edition, 1864, No. 172, omitting the translation of stanza xi.). The translations of stanzas ix.-xi., xvi., beginning "My Saviour, how shall I proclaim," were included in the American Sabbath Hymn Book, 1858, and the Baptist Service of Song, Boston, U.S., 1871.
2. See, World, upon the bloody tree. A C.M. version by P. H. Molther of stanzas i.-x. as No. 118, in the Moravian Hymn Book, 1742, and thence, as No. 442, in pt. i. of the Moravian Hymn Book, 1754. In 1789, No. 96 (1886, No. 109) it is altered to "See, world, upon the shameful tree." In his Christian Psalmist, 1825, No. 280, Montgomery omitted the translation of stanzas ii., v., vi. In 1856, stanzas i., iii.—vi. were included in the Evangelical Union Hymn Book.
3. O, World! behold upon the tree. A good translation, omitting stanza vii., by Miss Winkworth, in the 2nd Ser., 1858, of her Lyra Germanica, p. 29, and thence in Schaff’s Christ in Song, edition 1869, p. 174. Her translation of stanzas i., iii.-v., xii., xv., xvi. were included, slightly altered, in the Hymnary, 1872, and that of stanzas xi.-xiii., xv., xvi. altered and beginning "Lord, be Thy Cross before our sight," in Kennedy, 1863.
Other translations are (1) "Here, World, see thy Redeemer." In the Supplement to German Psalmody, edition 1765, p. 16; in Select Hymns from German Psalmody, Tranquebar, 1754, p. 28. (2) "O World! attention lend it," by J. Gambold, as No. 442 in pt. i. of the Moravian Hymn Book, 1754. In 1789, No. 89, altered to "O World, see thy Creator" (1886, No. 94). (3) "O World! sec thy Life languish," by J. D. Burns, in the Family Treasury, 1859, pt. i. p. 54, and in his Memoir & Remains, 1869, p. 246. (4) “See, World! thy Life assailed," by J. Kelly, 1867, p. 54. (5) "Here, World, thy great Salvation see," by Dr. J. Guthrie, 1869, p. 87. (6) "O World! see here suspended," as No. 1009, in Reid's Praise Book, 1872. (7) "Behold. O World, thy Life, thy Lord," by Dr. R. Maguire, 1883, p. 143. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.]
--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)
Paul Gerhardt (b. Gräfenheinichen, Saxony, Germany, 1607; d. Lubben, Germany, 1676), famous author of Lutheran evangelical hymns, studied theology and hymnody at the University of Wittenberg and then was a tutor in Berlin, where he became friends with Johann Crüger. He served the Lutheran parish of Mittenwalde near Berlin (1651-1657) and the great St. Nicholas' Church in Berlin (1657-1666). Friederich William, the Calvinist elector, had issued an edict that forbade the various Protestant groups to fight each other. Although Gerhardt did not want strife between the churches, he refused to comply with the edict because he thought it opposed the Lutheran "Formula of Concord," which condemned some Calvinist doctrines. Consequently, he was r… Go to person page >
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