Auf dich trau ich, mein Herr und Gott

Here is my translation of the psalm paraphrase, “Auf dich trau ich, mein Herr und Gott” (Cornelius Becker, d. 1604), based on Psalm VII, Domine Deus meus. The melody “Wo Gott der Herr nicht bei uns hält” is normally appointed.

Vierling (Biblia, 708) writes, “This also is a psalm of supplication, and it laments the slanderous lips which charge the saints and their doctrine as being seditious and destroyers of authority and disturbers of the peace, even as Shimei the Jeminite (2 Sam. 16:8) slandered faithful David in his exile as having usurped the kingdom from King Saul, and as the Jews also blamed Christ before Pilate, and as the slanderers of the Gospel also now criticize. Against such tribulation he fights here with supplication, crying to God of his innocence (v. 4). Afterward, he points to the example in himself of how this prayer is heard for our consolation (v. 17) and terribly threatens slanderers and tyrants and gives them the example of Absalom, how he perished before he carried out the evil that he had begun in mind (v. 5). And this psalm also pertains to the Second Commandment and the First Petition, as did the previous one above.”

 

I TRUST in Thee, my God and Lord,
Show me Thy help, I pray Thee,
And save me from the raging horde,
That they may not dismay me,
And tear my soul in wrath apart
As with a vicious lion’s heart,
While no man can deliver.

2 O Lord, my God, if wrong I do,
My hands with sin be sordid,
Or I have been to men untrue,
Or any ill rewarded,
Then let the foe my soul appall,
And let my life be lost, with all
My office, goods, and honor.

3 Arise in anger for the rage
Of foes together banded;
Let me again that work engage
To me by Thee commanded,
So that the people, as before,
May gather round and Thee adore:
Return on high with power!

4 Lord, Thou dost judge men righteously;
The cause to Thee I render.
Now by my righteousness judge me,
Integrity’s Defender!
Put down the wicked in the dust,
And in Thy shelter keep the just.
The hearts and reins Thou triest.

5 God is my shield, who saveth aye
True hearts from trials testing;
The righteous Judge gives threats each day,
There is indeed no jesting.
If we turn not in haste, His sword
Is whetted, and for death the Lord
His deadly bow hath readied.

6 He who misfortune doth conceive
Shall see the birth miscarry;
He who with pits would men aggrieve
Himself therein shall bury;
Misfortune shall be on his crown,
His mischief shall come surely down
Upon his own pate falling.

7 I thank God for His righteousness
Which He hath shown me ever;
At morn and eve to praise and bless
Shall be my sole endeavor.
I’ll greatly glorify Thy name,
And give Thee, Lord, all due acclaim,
Who art Most High forever.

Translation © 2024 Matthew Carver.

GERMAN

1 Auff dich trau ich, mein HErr und Gott,
Wolſt mir dein Hülff beweiſen,
errett mich von der Feinde Rott,
Daß ſie nicht niederreiſſen,
Mein arme Seel mit Ungeſtümb,
Mit grauſam Zorn und Löwens Grimm,
Weil kein Rettung vorhanden.

2  HErr, mein Gott, hab ich böß gethan,
Iſt Unrecht in meinn Händen.,
Hab ich Untreu am einigm Mann,erzeigt,
Jemand wolt ſchenden.,
So hab der Feind die Seele mein,
Das Leben ſol verlohren ſeyn.,
Ampt, Ehr und Gut desgleichen.

3  Steh auff im Zorn, uber den Grim,
Meinr Feinde dich erhebe,
Hilff mir ins Ampt, das du vorhin,
Mir durch Befehl gegeben.,
Daß ſich die Leute wie zuvor,
Samlen zu dir, drumb kom empor,
Und deine Macht erzeige.

4  HErr Gott, du richteſt recht die Leut,
Dir ich befehl die Sache.,
Richt mich nach meiner Grechtigkeit,
Mein Unſchuld kundbar mache.,
Wehr doch einmal der Böſen Trutz,
Und nimm das Recht in deinen Schutz.,
Du, HErr, prüffſt Hertz und Nieren.

5  Gott iſt mein Schild, der allezeit,
Aus Noth hilfft frommen Hertzen,
Der grechte Richter täglich dräwt,
Da iſt fürwahr kein Schertzen,
Wo man ſich nicht bekehrt in Eyl,
Sine Schwerd iſt gwetzt, ſein tödlich Pfeil,
Sind fertig zum verderben.

6  Drumb wer mit Unglück ſchwanger geht,
Wird einen Feil geberen,
Wer dem andern ein Grube grebt,
Wird ſelbſt drin gfangen werden,
Das Unglück ſeinen Kopff beſteht,
Der Frevel uber ihn auſgeht,
Und fellt auf ſeinen Scheittel.

7  Ich danck dem Rechten, das mir Gott,
Hat laſſen wiederfahren,
Solches zu rühmen früh und ſpat,
Wil ich kein Fleiß nicht ſparen,
Deinn Namen wil ich preyſen ſehr,
Und dich loben, O Gott mein HErr,
Du biſt der Allerhöchſte.