Ach Gott der du vor dieſer Zeit

Here is my translation of the psalm paraphrase, “Ach Gott der du vor dieſer Zeit” (Cornelius Becker, d. 1604), based on Psalm LX, Deus repulisti, with title “The golden rose-band . . . A golden jewel of David to sing before [the people], to teach of a golden rose-band [shushaneduth], when he strove with the Syrians in Mesopotamia, and with the Syrian of Zobah, where Joab returned and struck 12,000 of the Edomites in the Valley of Salt” and melody assignment “Ach Gott vom Himmel sieh darein.” Concerning the “rose-band,” now often taken to mean a melody “Lily of the covenant,” Vierling has the gloss “That is, a hanging or precious jewel in the shape of a rose; so he calls his kingdom here, which is a divine jewel or decoration.” Vierling writes on the psalm (Biblia, 753),

It is a psalm of thanksgiving in which David thanks God for giving him an excellent kingdom wherein God’s Word was taught and good, orderly government existed, which was truly a precious jewel. For before David, in the time of Saul, it was (as the first three verses lament) a broken, worthless government, and sore afflicted by the Philistines, such that even the ark of God was not much esteemed (2 Chron. 14:3). And otherwise things were ill done, with great injustice, even as it must be so where God is not at home. And David’s example certainly indicates how Saul had wicked villains at court, etc. Yet (it says) God left a sign for His own, and they displayed it, gloried in it, and with it were sure and certain of His grace, namely, the tabernacle of Moses and the ark of the covenant, with the mercy-seat (throne of grace), which He also brought with mighty wonder out of the land of the Philistines, etc., before which they worshiped and called upon God, and thus were delivered out of their troubles.

Then he takes account of his land and people, first the sanctuary and God’s Word, then Shechem, Succoth, Gilead, Manasseh, Ephraim, Judah, Moab, Edom, and the Philistines (v. 9). Finally, he confesses that it is not a matter of man to have a fortified city, that is, a good, peaceable government, and to win Edom, that is, land and people, and to gain the victory in battle, but God must give it (v. 12). But as to why he names no more lands or tribes than the abovenamed belongs in a commentary, not a summary. We may sing the psalm, God be praised! because He has spread the church far over the world and has many parishes and cathedrals where God’s Word is heard and everyone has his special gift.

 

O GOD, who hast before this day
Cast off Thy favored nation
And scattered us like chaff away,
So great Thine indignation—
Oh, for the glory of Thy name,
Turn to us in our grief and shame
And give again Thy comfort!

2 Thou didst by Thine almighty hand
Remove the earth and break it;
Oh, heal the breaches, help the land,
Let not Thine anger shake it!
Hard things Thou hast Thy people shown,
Hast made us drink with many a groan
Strong wine, and made us stagger.

3 Yet in Thy steadfast faithfulness,
Thou hast a banner given
Of grace to hearts that fear possess
And serve the God of heaven;
They held aloft Thy gracious sign
And therefore saw Thy help divine,
And they were filled with gladness.

4 Lord, by Thy right hand help afford,
Thy people to deliver;
Show that we are by Thee adored
And Thy belovèd ever!
God speaketh in His holy place:
It fills My heart with joy by grace
The land thus to apportion.
    
5 First Shechem and fair Succoth’s vale
I will mete out in measure;
And Gilead and, without fail,
Manasseh, are My treasure;
My head’s great strength is Ephraim,
My prince is Judah. After him,
My washpot is yon Moab.

6 My foot in Edom’s famous ground
I will with God be setting,
And o’er Philistia renowned
My triumph I’ll be getting.
Who’ll bring me to the city there,
With all her walls and towers fair?
Would that I were in Edom!

7 God, wilt not Thou show faithfulness
(Though Thou hast us rejected)
And give us help in our distress,
Nor leave us here neglected?
The help of man is vanity,
Through God we shall do valiantly—
The foe He shall o’erpower.

Translation © 2024 Matthew Carver

GERMAN

Ach Gott der du vor dieſer Zeit,
Uns dein Volck haſt verſtoſſen
Und weit unter die Feind zerſtreut
In deinem Zorn ſo große,
Ach Herr umb deines Nahmens Ehr,
Laß uns nach unſerm Trübſal ſchwer
Wiederumb getröſtet werden.

2  Die Erd haſtu durch deine Hand,
Zerriſſen und bewegt :,:
Heyl ihre Brüch, und hilff dem Land,
Schaff, daß dein Zorn ſich lege.
Du haſt deim Volck ein Harts erzeigt,
Ein ſtarcken Trunck Weins uns gereicht,
Davon wir taumelnd worden.

3  Doch haſtu durch dein groſſe Trew
Ein Gnadenzeichen geben :,:
Allen die nur von Hertzen frey,
In deinem Dienſte leben,
Sie wurffen auff das Zeichen dein,
Daher ihnen dein Hülff erſchein,
Drob ſie ſo fröhlich wurden.

4  Hilff HErr durch deine rechte Hand,
Daß wir erledigt werden,
Erhör uns bald und machs bekannd,
Daß du uns liebſt auff Erden,
Gott redet in ſeim Heiligthumb,
Das ſchafft meim Hertzen Frewd und Wonn,
Das Land wil ich recht theilen.
    
5  Sichem zuerſt, darnach Suchot,
Das Thal will ich abmeſſen,
Auch Gilead, hoff ich zu Gott,
Iſt mein, wie auch Manaſſe.
Meins Häuptes Macht iſt Ephraim,
Juda mein Fürſt, mein Waſchſtöpffin
Die Moabiter bleiben.

6  Mein Fuß ins Edomiter Land
Wil ich mit Gott noch ſetzen,
Auch die Philiſter wol bekannt
Werden mich noch ergetzen.
Wer wil mich führen in die Stadt,
Die groſſe Thürm und Mawren hat?
In Edom wer ich gerne.

7  Wirſtus nicht thun, du trewer Gott,
Der du uns haſt verſtoſſen?
Schaff uns Beyſtand HErr in der Noth,
Sonſt ſtehn wir gantz verlaſſen,
An Menſchen Hülff iſt doch kein Ruhm,
Mit Gott wollen wir Thaten thun,
Er wird die Feind bezwingen.