Gott helf uns allen

 Psalm XXVIII. 
A Psalm of David.

¶ Psalm XXVIII is a psalm of supplication against the bloodthirsty hypocrites, who on occasion give good words to others and act friendly, and yet seek to take the lives of those very people. We may well pray it against the tyrants and sectarian spirits, for tyrants act friendly, as if they are quite well disposed to religion, and yet secretly and daily plot to murder and harm it. Sectarian spirits and false brothers highly boast of God’s glory, Word, and worship out of measure, wish to help all the world, and are exceedingly humble, but seek all the same to destroy souls and are the ravening wolves under skins of sheep. Accordingly, since these two groups occupy the secular and spiritual rule, a Christian here prays that God will not let them be snatched away with them. It is prophesied that they shall meet a wicked end. God is praised and extolled, and all good is desired for the church of Christ.

Mel.: Gott sei gelobet.

MAY God provide us / help when ills betide us

And in mercy stay beside us,

Our voices hearing, / helping in cross-bearing,

That we may not be despairing.

Kyrieleison!

When I cry to Thee and implore Thee,

Be not silent, Lord, nor ignore me,

Lest I fall in my woe

To the pit of death below.

Kyrieleison!

2 Hear, I implore Thee, / when I stand before Thee,

And lament how foes run o’er me,

Succor be gifting, / when my hands I’m lifting

To Thee, Lord, and come Thou swiftly.

Kyrieleison!

With the wicked horde do not take me,

Nor to suffer judgment, Lord, make me!

Cast my soul not away

In deep hell with them to pay!

Kyrieleison!

3 Though peaceful seeming, / to their neighbors gleaming,

They have hearts with mischief teeming.

Therefore God ever / shall their forces sever

And pay them for their endeavor.

Kyrieleison!

Render to them as they have earnèd,

Since the Lord their God they have spurnèd,

And His works all discard,

And His pleasure disregard.

Kyrieleison!

4 God’s works of wonder, / which He here and yonder

Gives us at all hours to ponder,

Their horde rejecteth, / and His Word neglecteth,

And His works all disrespecteth.

Kyrieleison!

Therefore He shall wholly destroy them, 

And make hell as plunder enjoy them.

Thus we God praise and bless,

Who saves us in all distress.

Kyrieleison!

5 Strength God bestoweth, / and His mercy showeth:

See, His heart with ardor gloweth!

Help He will send us, / as our shield defend us

’Gainst the foes who harm intend us,

Kyrieleison!

Thus my heart in Him trust reposeth,

And His helps to me He discloseth,

Which my heart joy afford;

Thanks and praise to Christ the Lord!

Kyrieleison!

6 The Lord is mighty, / never weak nor flighty,

Near to those who praise Him rightly,

Saveth His lowly / saints, who trust Him solely,

Making them His body holy.

Kyrieleison!

Save Thy people, Christ, we beseech Thee,

Thine inheritance bless Thou richly!

Feed them, Lord, we implore,

Lift them up forevermore.

Kyrieleison!

German text by C. Spangenberg, 1582.
Translation © 2026 Matthew Carver.

GERMAN

Gott helf uns allen / nach seim Wohlgefallen

in diesem betrübtem Falle:

Hör unser Klagen, / hilf das Kreuze tragen,

daß wir ja nicht verzagen,

Kyrieleison.

Wenn ich, Herr, kläglichen ruf zu dir,

so wölltest du nicht schweigen mir,

daß ich nicht in der Noth

gar versinke in den Tod,

Kyrieleison.

2 Herr, hör mein Flehen, / wenn ich vor dir stehe,

und klag wie mich mein Feind schmähet:

Dein Hülf mir sende, / wenn ich meine Hände

aufheb zu dir, Herr, behende,

Kyrieleison.

Unter den Gottlosen zeuch nit hin

meine Seel, verdamm mich nicht mit ihn,

wirf ja nicht meine Seel

mit ihn in die tiefe Hell,

Kyrieleison.

3 Freundlich sich stellen, / gegen ihr Gesellen

im Herzen doch nicht guts wöllen.

Darum nach ihr That / und ihren bösen Rath

ihn Gott billich gelohnet hat,

Kyrieleison.

Vergilt ihn wie sie verdienet han,

dieweil sie beleidigen jedermann,

des Herren achten sie nicht,

folgen auch seinem Bericht,

Kyrieleison.

4 Des Herren Wunder, / die er uns besunder

erzeiget hat alle Stunde,

sie gar nichts achten, / noch sein Wort betrachten,

sondern solchs alles verachten,

Kyrieleison.

Darum wird er sie zubrechen gar,

und stürzen auch ihre falsche Lahr.

Darum loben wir Gott,

der uns hilft in aller Noth,

Kyrieleison.

5 Gott will uns stärken / mit sein Gnadenwerken,

solchs solln wir fein lernen merken.

Auch will er milde / uns mit seinem Schilde

schützen vor den Feinden wilde,

Kyrieleison.

Darum hoffet auch iauf ihn mein Herz,

und mir ist geholfen ohne Scherz,

daß mein Herz fröhlich ist,

und dankt dem Herrn Jesu Christ,

Kyrieleison.

6 Stark ist der Herre, / wird auch nicht sein ferre

von den, die ihm geben Ehre.

Er hilft den seinen, / die ihn treulich meinen

im Glauben ihm trauen alleine,

Kyrieleison.

So hilf nun deim Volk, Herr Jesu Christ,

segne reichlich, was dein Erbtheil ist.

Weide sie gnädiglich,

und erhör sie ewiglich, 

Kyrieleison. 

 

Wenn ich, Herr Gott, mein Stimm heb auf

Here is my translation of the psalm paraphrase, “Wenn ich, Herr Gott, mein Stimm heb auf” (Burkard Waldis, d. 1556), based on Psalm XXVIII, Ad te Domine clamavi, with title “A consolation and supplication against the enemies of the church.” The Mixolydian melody by Waldis follows the meter 827.827.87.887 (AABCCBDEDDE), used only here in his Psalter; which he may have taken from Vogtherr’s Psalm LXXI, “Herr Gott, ich trau allein auf dich” (Strassburg, 1525). I give the melody transposed down somewhat.

 

WHEN unto Thee, Lord God on high,
I cry,
Spare not Thy help amending;
Lest if Thou silent be to me,
I be
Like those to hell descending!
When I lift up my hands to pray,
Let me not be forsaken,
Lest evil draw me clean away
Or I with evildoers stay,
And be from Thee, Lord, taken.

2 They speak fair sayings foully meant,
Intent
That we should not discern it;
Just payment give their wicked horde,
O Lord,
As surely as they earn it!
They carry on so self-assured,
And will not trust Thee ever;
Regarding not Thy works and Word,
Their ruin let not be deterred,
And build their forces never!

3 Blest be the Lord, who heard with care
My pray’r;
In Him my heart is trusting.
He comforts me, when I’m dismayed
Gives aid,
Therefore my heart is boasting.
The Lord my strength and shield shall be,
His heirs doth help and cherish;
Feeds and uplifts them ceaselessly
So that His grace they ever see
And none of His shall perish.

¶ For all these gifts so great and good
We should
Praise Him with sweetest singing,
Extolling Him our whole life long,
Our song
Of thanks in all things bringing,
In Jesus Christ His only Son,
Who took our human nature,
And came to earth from heaven’s throne,
And life for us by dying won,
As our dear Mediator.

Translation © 2024 Matthew Carver.

GERMAN

Wenn ich HERR Gott mein stimm heb uff,
Und ruff,
So wöllst dein hülff nit sparen,
Daß, wo du schweigst, ich nit auff erd,
Gleich werd,
Den die ind Helle faren,
Ja wenn ich schrei, mein hend auff heb,
So stoß mich nit hinunder,
Daß mich der böß nit ubergeb,
Unnd ich mit ubelthätern leb,
Mich gar von dir absunder.

2 Sie reden guts auß bösem sinn,
Dahin,
Daß wirs nit sollen mercken:
Gib in nach irer falschen leer,
O HERR,
Und nach irn bösen wercken,
In irem sinn farn sie stedts fort,
Und wölln dir nit vertrawen,
Verachten beyd dein werck und wort,
Wöllst sie zerstörn mein Got und hort,
Und nimmer wider bawen.

3 Globt sei der HERR, Er hat mein wort
Erhort,
Auff in mein hertz sol hoffen:
Er tröst und hilfft mir allezeit,
Auß leyd,
Wann mich unfal hat troffen,
Der HERR ist stedts der seinen sterck,
Segnets und hilfft seim Erbe,
Weydet, ernert seinr hende werck,
Daß man sein güt Ewigklich merck,
Und keins von in verderbe.

¶Für solche theure gaben groß,
On moß,
Sölln wir im lobe singen.
In rhümen unser leben lang,
mit danck
In allen unsern dingen,
In Jesu Christo seinem Son,
Der kommen ist auff erden,
Auß lauter gnad von himelsthron,
Durchs blut und theuren todt so fron,
Wolt unser mitler werden.

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.