Ich ruf zu dir, Herr Gott mein Hort

Here is my translation of the psalm paraphrase “Ich ruf zu dir, Herr Gott mein Hort” (Cornelius Becker, d. 1604), based on Psalm XXVIII, Ad te Domine clamabo, with melody assignment, logically enough, “Ich ruf zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ.” Vierling (Biblia, 724) writes on the psalm, “It is a psalm of supplication which David may have prayed in his own day against Saul and similar people, especially against the unfaithful, when they sometimes spoke good words to him, acted friendly, and yet sought after his life, as Absalom did later and Joab did to Amasa and Abner, so that David was concerned that God might account it to him, and therefore prays that He would not snatch him away with the ungodly (v. 3). We can pray it both against the tyrants and against the sectarian spirits. For the tyrants act friendly and yet seek daily how they may murder and harm. The sectarian spirits boast of God’s glory, words, and service highly beyond measure, wish to help the whole world, and are perfectly humble, yet all the same seek destruction of souls and are the ravening wolves under sheeps’ clothing. It pertains to the Second and Third Commandments and the First and Second Petitions.

 

I CRY, Lord God, my Rock, to Thee!
In grace my groaning cherish,
Lest in Thy silence I must be
Like those who sink and perish!
So to Thy Mercy-seat let rise
My sighs of invocation
With prostration:
Through Christ do not despise,
But hear my supplication!

2 Spare me in grace when judgment dread
The wicked race o’ertaketh;
Their lips the words of kindness spread,
Their heart but mischief maketh;
Give them as due for every deed—
Each wicked, vile endeavor!
Thou see’st ever
How faithless is their breed;
Oh, let them prosper never!

3 They hearken not unto Thy Word,
Thy works of wonder scorning;
In all their deeds they undeterred
Go on, their case adorning.
Thou wilt not silent be alway;
Their mischief unamending,
Well attending,
Thou justly wilt repay
With judgment never-ending.

4 I put my confidence in Thee;
Thou heard’st my supplication,
And so I thank Thee heartily
For help in tribulation.
My Strength and Shield Thou art alone,
My heart with joy is burning,
And is yearning
To make Thy praises known,
With song Thy name adorning.

5 The Church, Thy people throughout time,
Firm in this trust abideth:
Thou art their Strength and Help sublime
When trouble’s hour betideth.
Thy people save, O Christ our Lord!
The flock of Thy possessing
Fill with blessing,
Sustain us in Thy Word,
Lift us to bliss unceasing!

Translation © 2024 Matthew Carver.

GERMAN

Ich ruff zu dir, Herr Gott mein Hort,
Dein Gnad an mir nicht ſpare,
Denn ſo du ſchweigſt, ſo muß ich fort,
Gleich mit zur Helle fahren,
Wenn ich beth für deim Gnadenthron,
Laß dirs zu Hertzen gehen,
Und mein Flehen,
Durch Chriſtum, deinen Sohn,
Wollſt, Herr, ja nicht verſchmehen.

2 Schon mein in Gnad, wenn dein Gericht
Die gottlos Rott heimſuchet,
Die gute Wort giebt männiglich,
Und doch im Hertzen fluchet.
Gieb ihnen HErr, was ſie verdient.
Nach ihrer Hände Wercken,
Du kanst mercken,
Wie untreu ſie geſinnt,
Wirst ſie darinn nicht ſtärcken.

3  Sie achten doch nicht auf dein Wort,
dein Werk ſie nur verlachen,
in ihrem Tun ſie fahren fort
und ſchmücken ihre Sachen.
Dazu kannſt du ſtillſchweigen nicht,
dem Frevel du wirſt wehren
und ſie lehren,
daß du durch dein Gericht
ihr Weſen kannſt zerſtören.

4  Zu dir all mein Vertrauen ſtund,
Du haſt mein Bitt erhöret,
Drum dank ich dir von Herzen Grund,
Daß du mir haſt gewähret.
Mein Schild, mein Stärk du biſt allein
Mein Herz mit Freud durchgangen,
Hat Verlangen,
Zu lob'n den Namen dein
Mit ſchönen Lobgeſängen.

5  Dein Volk, die Kirch zu jeder Friſt
Steht feſt in dem Vertrauen,
Daß du ihr Stärk und Zuflucht biſt,
In Not auf dich zu bauen.
Herr Jeſu Chriſt, hilf deiner Schar,
Dein'n Segen tu vermehren,
Gnad beſcheren.
Beim Wort dein Erb bewahr,
Bring uns ewig zu Ehren.