Mein Herz tichtet ein Lied mit Fleiß

Here is my translation of the psalm paraphrase, “Mein Herz tichtet ein Lied mit Fleiß” (Cornelius Becker, d. 1604), based on Psalm XLV, Eructavit cor meum, with melody assignment “Sie ist mir lieb, die werthe Magd.” Of the melody, I include the simpler form included in the St. Louis Gebetsschatz’s hymn appendix as well as the form as given by Zahn from Babst.  Of the psalm, Vierling (Biblia, 741) writes,

It is a prophecy of the Gospel and the kingdom of Christ adorned with glorious, splendid, and mighty words. For it depicts Christ as a King equipped with all manner of kingly splendor, so that He is very beautiful, well spoken, well dressed, well equipped, prosperous in war, righteous, meek, gracious (v. 3). Again, He has beautiful palaces, a grand retinue of ladies, a beautiful queen, and children forever (v. 10). All this is utter Spirit, concerning Christ’s Gospel, Spirit, gifts, church, and eternal life, the victory over sin, death, the Law, the devil, flesh, the world, and all evil, etc.

But it also clearly tells how the old covenant is to cease (v. 11) for it bids the daughter to forget her father’s house and people (that is, the synagogue) and to worship this King as God, so that outside of Him there is no other God. Thus it gives Him the honor of the First Commandment, namely, worship, and plainly calls Him the true God in verses 6–7, and makes an eternal King of Him, who governs in righteousness and takes away sin. But an eternal King must be God Himself; of which there is not time to speak further at present.

  

 

MY heart indites an anthem fair
About the King who reigneth,
The Holy Ghost, that Writer rare,
My tongue His pen ordaineth:
Thou’rt fairer than
The sons of men,
More gracious are
Thy lips by far,
God blesseth Thee forever;
Gird, Champion, on Thy thigh Thy sword,
Prosper in Thine endeavor,
O great and glorious Lord!

2 Ride forth, defend Thy justice true,
And those of lowly station,
Thy right hand, which doth wonders do,
Make known in every nation.
Thine arrows, freed,
Let fly with speed,
And make men fall
And heed Thy call
And to Thy grace surrender.
Thy throne, O God, shall never end;
Thy scepter shall with splendor
The truth and right defend.

3 Thou, Lord, true righteousness dost love,
And hat’st all wicked madness;
Therefore God Thee anoints above
Thy friends with oil of gladness.
O very God,
Thy sweet Manhood
With Godhead full,
Unfath’mable,
Is dressed in glorious fashion;
Thy garments smell of fragrance sweet,
Thy Word leads to salvation,
With which naught can compete.
    
4 Thou goest out in majesty
From heaven’s throne eternal;
King’s daughters come to welcome Thee
In beauty all supernal,
The bride doth stand
At Thy right hand
In gold most dear;
O daughter, hear,
Observe with careful hearing,
Thy folk and father’s house forget,
The Lord, thy beauty nearing,
His heart upon thee set.

5 He is thy Lord and Bridegroom dear,
Then worship and adore Him,
The heathen highly Him revere,
With gifts they come before Him,
The rich entreat
Thy favor sweet,
The King’s dear bride
Is purified,
Glorious her heart within her,
Her clothing is of gold brocade;
Unto the King they bring her
In needlework arrayed.

6 Her virgin friends come following,
Her wedding train attending,
Into the palace of the King,
To joy and bliss unending;
In fathers’ stead
Shall sons be bred,
As lords to stand
O’er every land;
I will to honor raise thee,
Thy name will children’s children know,
The peoples all shall praise thee
And thanks forever show.

Translation © 2024 Matthew Carver.

GERMAN

Mein Herz tichtet ein Lied mit Fleiß
Vom König, der regieret,
Der edle Schreiber, Gottes Geiſt,
Mein Zung zum Griffel führet,
Kein Menſchenkind
man ſchöner find
Holdſelig ſeyn
die Lippen dein,
Gſegnet in allen Dingen.
Du Held, gürt an die Seit dein Schwert,
Rüſt dich, dir muß gelingen
In deinem Schmuck ſo wert.

2 Zeuch einher der Warheit zu gut,
Bey Recht ſchütz den Elenden,
Dein rechte Hand, die Wunder thut,
Werd Kund an allen Enden.
Dein ſcharffe Pfeil
Fellen in Eil,
Bringn unter dich
Völcker, die ſich
Ergeben deiner Gnade.
Dein Stuel, O Gott, bleibt ewiglich,
Deins Reichs Scepter gerade
Schirmt Warheit und Gericht. :,:

3 Du liebeſt die Gerechtigkeit,
Thuſt den Gottloſen fellen,
Drumb ſalbt dich Gott mit Oel der Freud
Mehr denn all dein Geſellen.
O GOtt von Art,
Dein Menſchheit zart,
Mit göttlichr Füll
Ohn Maß und Ziel
Gar herrlich iſt gezieret,
Dein Kleid wie Myrrhen lieblich reucht,
Dein Wort zum Leben führet,
Dem ſich kein Schatz vergleicht. :,:
    
4 Du trittſt in deiner Pracht herfür
Aus deim göttlichen Throne,
Königs Töchter begegnen dir
In deim Zierrath ſo ſchöne,
Die Braut ſteht gſchmückt
Im güldnen Stück
Zur Rechten dein.
Hör, Tochter mein,
Schaw drauff und neig dein Ohren,
Vergiß deins Volcks und Vaters Haus,
Der HErr hat dich erkoren,
Du biſt ſchön überaus. :,:

5 Er iſt dein HErr und Breutgam wert,
Du ſolt für ihm anbeten.
Von Heyden wird der hoch geehrt,
Mit Gaben ſie hertreten,
Die Reichen ſtehn
Für dir mit Flehn.
Gantz ſchön herrlich
Iſt inwendig
Des Königs Braut gezieret,
Ihr Schmuck von lauterm Gold bereid,
Zum König man ſie führet
Im ſchön geſtickten Kleid. :,:

6 Jungfrawen, die ihr Gſpielen ſind,
Führt man ihr nach im Gleite
Ins Königs Pallaſt, da man find
Die Füll der Wonn und Frewde,
An Eltern Statt
Sie Kinder hat
Zu Fürſten bſtellt
In aller Welt.
Ich will dein Namen ehren,
Kindskind ſol ſein vergeſſen nicht,
Völcker dein Lob vermehren
Immer und ewiglich. :,: