Ich sags vom Grund meins Herzens frei

 Here is my translation of the psalm paraphrase, “Ich sags vom Grund meins Herzens frei” (Cornelius Becker, d. 1604), based on Psalm XXXVI, Dixit unjustus, with melody assignment “Es spricht der Unweisen Mund wohl.”

Vierling (Biblia, 732f.), writes on the psalm itself

It is a psalm of instruction that warns and teaches us to beware of false teachers, heretics, and sectarian spirits, for which it also prays at the end and in addition in the middle of the psalm, consoles (v. 7) that God’s Word and kingdom will not be cast down by their sectarianism, but remain firmly standing in all the world like a mountain, which God Himself plants, and like the depths of the abysses, which are unfathomable. And yet in the house of God the living and comforting Word shall abide, etc.
     He depicts this masterfully, saying, ‘There are wicked, venomous people who firstly treat God’s Word most despitefully, and have no fear of God at all, who are proud, brazen, and secure in teaching what they think good (v. 2). Second, they also praise and extol nothing but themselves, disgrace and besmirch all other teachers in the bitterest way. And in that point they are masters, adorn themselves alone, and there must be no Spirit, no God, no church anywhere else (v. 3). Third, their doctrine is harmful and is utter lies. For they strive against faith and the doctrine of grace, and deceive people with their false appearance and lies (v. 4). Fourth, they are stubborn and stiff-necked, tolerate no instruction nor admonition, their head is harder than an ambos, indeed, when they sense that others would rebuke and not praise them, they burn and start to rage like the devil. Fifth, they carry on and increase, spreading their enterprise and waxing like cancer, says St. Paul. For they purvey their matter ten times more fervently and diligently than do pure teachers, as if they are eager to overturn everything in a day, and there is no rest nor quarter. Lastly, they persecute and afflict wherever they can, all who refuse to associate with them, and do this evil, it says, without hesitation, with all resolve and security, as though they were doing God a service therein.

 

WITH all my heart I freely say
Of wicked men’s transgression
They fear not God nor Him obey,
Self-flatt’ry’s their obsession,
One doth the other imitate,
Their evil purpose to instate
And slander all the godly.

2 Their learning, which has others fooled,
Is shameful and deceiving,
They will not be by God o’erruled,
In wisdom unbelieving,
Devising mischief on their bed,
They will not leave the way they tread,
No evil work abhorring.

3 Thy mercy, Lord, and faithfulness
Reach even unto heaven,
Thy truth beyond the clouds doth press,
Which over us are driven.
Thy righteousness like mountains tall,
Thy judgments deeper are than all;
Thou man and beast preservest.

4 How precious, God, Thy love by far,
Wherein our trust is founded,
Thy wings our shield from terrors are
By which we are surrounded;
Like chickens in the hen’s embrace,
So are we covered by Thy grace,
To dwell in peace beside Thee.

5 The riches of Thy house Thou dost
Pour out to satisfy us,
The rivers of Thy pleasures must
With quickening supply us.
The fount of life, Lord, is with Thee,
And in Thy Word’s bright light we see,
The light of grace and favor.

6 O spread Thy truth and grace abroad
On them, O Lord, that know Thee.
Thy righteousness on them, O God,
That true obedience show Thee,
And suffer not the prideful horde
To tread me underfoot, O Lord,
Nor let their hand remove me.

7 Display in them Thy mighty pow’r,
And let their ranks be riven,
Who my destruction sought each hour;
Oh, let them back be driven!
Yea, cast them out, their mischief check,
Of their false teaching leave no speck,
And let them rise no longer.

Translation © 2024 Matthew Carver.

GERMAN

Ich ſags von Grund meins Hertzens frei
Von der Gottloſen Tücken,
Daß kein Gottsfurcht bei ihnen ſey,
Sie können ſich fein ſchmücken,
Einer dem andern ahmet nach,
Zu fördern ihre böſe Sach,
Den Frommen zu verleumbden.

2  Was ſie lernen mit groſſem Schein/
Iſt ſchändlich und erlogen/
Sie wollen ungemeiſtert ſeyn/
Haben Gott nicht für Augen/
Im Bett ihr Hertz auff Schaden ticht/
Sie laſſen ihre Wege nicht/
Kein Bubenſtück ſie ſchewen.

3  So weit, HERR Gott, der Himmel reicht/
Geht dein Trew/ Güt und Leben/
Dein Warheit ſich den Wolcken gleicht,
Die uber uns hoch ſchweben,
Gerechtigkeit wie Berge ſteht/
Dein Recht nimmer zu Grunde geht,
Du hilffſt beyd, Vieh und Menſchen.

4  Wie tewr O Gott iſt deine Güt/
Der wir uns ganz vertrawen/
Deiner Gnad Fittich uns behüt
Für aller Furcht und Grawen.
Gleich wie die Henn ihr Küchlin fein/
Alſo deckt uns die Gnade dein/
In Fried bey dir zu wohnen.

5  Von deines Hauſes Gütern reich/
Zur Fröhligkeit uns trenckeſt,
Die Füll der Frewd uns all zugleich
Gar mildiglich einſchenckeſt/
Der Quell des Lebens iſt bey dir/
Im Liecht deins Wortes ſehen wir
Das Liecht der Gnad und Lebens.

6  Breit aus deine Gerechtigkeit
Ubr die/ ſo dich HErr kennen/
Dein Trew und Güt zu jeder Zeit/
Beweis in Gnad den Frommen,
Laß nicht zu/ daß die ſtolze Rott
Mich tret unter die Füſſe fort/
Und ihre Hand mich ſtütze.

7  Beweis an ihnen deine Macht/
Schlag ſie, daß ſie hinfallen/
Die ſolch Unglück auff mich gedacht/
Laß ſie zurücke prallen/
Stos ſie hinaus/ dem Frevel wehr/
Und tilg aus ihre falſche Lehr/
Daß ſie kein Platz mehr habe.