Why art thou thus cast down, my heart?

Representative Text

Why art thou thus cast down, my heart?
Why troubled, why dost mourn apart,
O'er nought but earthly wealth?
Trust in thy God, be not afraid,
He is thy Friend who all things made.

Dost think thy prayers He doth not heed?
He knows full well what thou dost need,
And heaven and earth are His;
My Father and my God, who still
Is with my soul in every ill.

Since Thou my God and Father art,
I know Thy faithful loving heart
Will ne'er forget Thy child;
See I am poor, I am but dust,
On earth is none whom I can trust.

The rich man in his wealth confides,
But in my God my trust abides;
Then laugh ye as ye will,
I hold this fast that He hath taught,--
Who trusts in God shall want for nought.

Yes, Lord, Thou art as rich to-day
As Thou hast been and shalt be aye,
I rest on Thee alone;
Thy riches to my soul be given,
And 't is enough for earth and heaven.

What here may shine I all resign,
If the eternal crown be mine,
That through Thy bitter death
Thou gainedst, O Lord Christ, for me--
For this, for this, I cry to Thee!

All wealth, all glories, here below,
The best that this world can bestow,
Silver or gold or lands,
But for a little time is given,
And helps us not to enter heaven.

I thank Thee, Christ, Eternal Lord,
That Thou hast taught me by Thy word
To know this truth and Thee;
O grant me also steadfastness
Thy heavenly kingdom not to miss.

Praise, honour, thanks, to Thee be brought,
For all things in and for me wrought
By Thy great mercy, Christ.
This one thing only still I pray,
Oh cast me ne'er from Thee away.



Source: Chorale Book for England, The #143

Author: Hans Sachs

Sachs, Hans, the famous German poet and shoemaker, was born at Nürnberg, Nov. 5, 1494; settled there in 1516 after his journeyman wanderings, and d. there on the evening of Jan. 19,1576 (see full notices in K. Goedeke's Grundriss, vol. ii., 1886, pp. 408-437; Allg. Deutsche Biographie, xxx., 115, &c). His poetical works were collected at Nürnberg in 3 vols., folio, 1558-61 (vol. 4, 1578; vol. 5, 1579); and a complete ed. of his works is now being published by the Literary Union of Stuttgart, of which vol. xvii. appeared in 1888. His pre-Reformation hymns are given by Wackernagel, ii., Nos. 1403-1410 ; and his post-Reformation hymns by Wackernagel, iii., Nos. 83-106. Two of his hymns (Wackernagel, iii., Nos. 83, 97) have been translated by… 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: Why art thou thus cast down, my heart?
German Title: Warum betrübst du dich, mein Herz
Author: Hans Sachs (1552)
Translator: Catherine Winkworth (1863)
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

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Chorale Book for England, The #143

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Lyra Germanica #S2-101

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The Bach Chorale Book #70

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