Ach Gott, warum verstößt du nun

 Here is my translation of the psalm paraphrase “”Ach Gott, warum verstößt du nun” (Cornelius Becker, d. 1604), based on Psalm LXXXIX part 2 (v. 38ff.) with no separate title, but with rubric “The following seven stanzas are to be sung to the tune: ‘Aus tiefer Noth ruf ich zu dir.’” Luther writes on the psalm’s second part,

In the 39th verse, he begins to prophesy how this pleasant, beautiful kingdom will nevertheless be crushed and torn apart and devastated by the antichrist, so that it seems as if God had forgotten the rich promise from before and does the opposite of His own word. But for our comfort in these last days, this is all made known beforehand, that we may not despair and think that Christendom no longer exists on earth. For under Mahomet and the papacy, no appearance of the church was left if you look at its government, and yet it must remain under both, however pitifully torn apart and despised.

 

20 AH God, why dost Thou thus cast off
Thy holy congregation,
Ah Lord my God, why must Thou be so rough
And show Thine indignation
Unto Thine own Anointed man,
And put Thy cov’nant to the ban,
His name and crown profaning?

21 Thou break’st the walls down to the ground,
The strongholds Thou dost ruin;
The spoilers in her streets are found
Intent on her undoing.
We are in our great hour of need
Made a reproach, a scornful breed
To all our neighbors round us!

22 Thou hast set up his rivals’ hand,
And joy his foes regaleth;
In battle he no more can stand,
His sword’s great vigor faileth;
The foe destroys both church and school,
Takes David’s throne, his fires to fuel,
And all things lie in ruins.

23 Our days of youth Thou hast curtailed,
With shame Thou dost us cover;
How long, Lord, wilt Thou be concealed?
And shall none be left over?
Wilt Thou continue in Thy wrath
And let it burn all in its path
Like as a wildfire burning?

24 Remember how few days remain,
How soon my time is ended!
Wherefore wouldst Thou make man in vain,
Yea, though he oft offended?
What man that lives shall not see death?
Who from the grave can save his breath
And by his hand deliver?

25 Lord, where is now Thy former grace
To David once Thou swarest?
Thou never canst Thy words efface
Thine oath Thou truly bearest.
Recall Thy servant and the scorn
(Which in my bosom yet is borne)
Heaped on him by the mighty.

26 That vile reproach of enemies
Is laid on Thine Anointed,
And must Thee heartily displease,
So let be it rejoinèd,
And saints resound from shore to shore:
Blest be the Lord forevermore,
Amen, O God, so be it!

Translation © 2024 Matthew Carver

GERMAN

Ach Gott warumb verſtöſtu nun
Und verwirffſt die Gemeine,
Ach HErr Gott wie ſehr zürneſtu,
Mit dem Geſalbten deine
Daß du den Bund deins Knechts verſtörſt
Und all ſein Herrlichkeit verheerſt,
Trittſt ſeine Kron zu Boden.

21  Die Mawren reiſſtu ein zu Grund,
Leſt die Feſtung zerſtören,
Es finden ſich zu aller Stund
Reuber, die ihn verheeren,
Wir ſind in unſer groſſen Noth,
Zum Beyſpiel und zum Hohn und Spott
All unſern Nachbarn worden.

22  Die Widerſacher ſind erhöht,
Den Feinden machſtu Frewde,
Die Krafft auch unſerm Schwerd entgeht,
Kein Glück iſt mehr im Streite,
Der Feind zerſtöret Kirch und Schul,
Du ſtöſt zu Boden Davids Stuel,
Es geht alles zugrunde.

23  Unſre Jugend verkürtzet ſich,
Du deckest uns mit Hohne,
Ach HErr, wie lang verbirgſtu dich,
Willtu denn gar nicht ſchonen?
Willtu fortfahrn in ſolchem Grimm
Und deinen Zorren immer hin
Wie Fewer brennen laſſen?

24  Gdenk, wie kurtz unſer Tage ſind,
Der Tod nimmt ſie bald abe,
Warumb willtu all Menſchenkind
Umbſonſt geſchaffen haben?
Wer lebt doch, der nicht ſeh den Tod,
Wer kan ſein Seel aus Hellen Noth
Durch eigne Hand erretten?

25  HERR, wo iſt deine vorig Gnad,
Die du David geſchworen?
Was du in Warheit zugeſagt,
Wird ja nicht ſeyn verloren,
Gedencke deiner Knechte Schmach,
Die ich in meinem Schoſſe trag
Von ſo viel Völcker allen.

26  Die Schmach der Feinde wil ja dich,
Gott ſelbſt auch mit angehen,
Dieweil ſie ſo gar trotziglich
Deinen Geſalbten ſchmehen,
Schaff, daß wiedrumb geſaget werd:
Gelobet ſey Gott, unſer Herr,
Ewiglich, Amen, Amen.