Christus der Schöpfer aller Ding

Here is my translation of the psalm paraphrase, “Christus der Schöpfer aller Ding” (Burkard Waldis, d. 1556), based on Psalm XLI, Beatus qui intelligit, with title “A psalm of supplication against the enemies and sons of Judas, a prophecy of the death of Christ.” The Dorian melody by Waldis follows the meter 86.86.76.76 iambic, which while not common, had a predecessor in the 1540 table hymn “Gott Vater, Sohn, Heiliger Geist, o unser einiger Gott,” perhaps indicating that this hymn, with its bold (even from the first line), free-handed Christian orientation, is a later composition. Heugel provides two settings, one in 4 voices and one in 5, suggesting the popularity or interest in the psalm, including for more festal occasions. I give the melody dropped five semitones.

 

CHRIST, of all things the Maker true,
To comfort Christians dear,
Gave His own self in season due
In flesh among us here.
Whoever lets this please him,
This in his heart engraves—
God ever blest decrees him,
And him sustains and saves.

2 He by the Lord is comfortèd,
To Him in life who cleaves;
From woe he is deliverèd
Whene’er the battling foe aggrieves.
On earth he prospers surely
In every duteous chore,
And shall be kept securely
And blest forevermore.

3 God’s Son from all eternity
Who all as His may claim,
In mercy and humility
A servant here became.
He for our sin imploreth,
As though He them had done.
Our losses He restoreth,
As those of His dear son.

4 He of His foes doth sore complain—
The Pharisees’ vile horde–
And saith: My doctrine they disdain,
And blaspheme God the Lord.
Their smiling’s an illusion,
Their heart is far from Me,
To put me to confusion
They seek most fervently.

5 Great lies against me they propound,
That they may work my death;
In synagogues they gather round
And under pois’nous breath
Devise a way to take me;
They turn their twisted thought,
How they at last may make me
Fall to their murd’rous plot.

6 They say, When we have slain the Man,
He nevermore shall rise;
And Judas sees their wicked plan
And sells me for a prize.
My friend my love betrayeth,
Who of my bread once ate;
His greedy thirst allayeth
And sells me to my fate.

7 Yet they shall not their hope obtain
By working me such woe:
The third day I will rise again,
And so My glory show.
I’ll cast them out forever,
Their murd’rous deeds repay,
And make them prosper never,
But end in all dismay.

8 For Thou, Lord God, hast mercy had
And turned their wrath fore’er;
Hast at Thy right hand made me glad,
As Thy own Son and Heir.
Therefore Thy name is glorified,
Thee heav’n and earth adore,
Amen rings out on every side
Now and forevermore!

Translation © 2024 Matthew Carver.

GERMAN

Christus der schöpffer aller ding,
Zum trost der Christenheyt,
Gab sich in unser fleysch gering,
In diser gnadenzeyt,
Wer im solchs laßt gefallen,
Und in sein hertz es schreibt,
Der ist selig ob allen,
Ewig erhalten bleibt.

2 Er wirt von Got dem Herrn getröst,
Der in beim leben helt:
Auß aller angst und not erlößt,
Wann im der feind nachstelt,
SOl im wol gehn auff erden,
In allem das Er thut,
Ewig erhalten werden,
Zur seligkeyt behut.

3 Der Son Gottes von Ewigkeyt,
Zu allem hat gut recht:
Doch ist Er auß barmhertzigkeyt
Worden zu einem knecht,
Er bitt für unser sünde,
Als het ers selbst gethan,
Gleich seiner lieben kinde,
Nimbt Er sich unser an.

4 Er klagt an seine feind gar sehr,
Der Phariseer Rott,
Und spricht: Sie lestern meine leer,
Als sei sie wider Got,
Doch mich freundtlich anlachen,
Ir hertz ist weit von mir,
Daß sie mich zschanden machen,
Ist all ir lust und bgir.

5 Sie reden fälschlich wider mich,
Wie sie mich brengen umb:
In iren schulen rotten sich,
Auff iren wegen krumb,
Mit iren bundgenossen,
Dencken viel böser tück,
Und wider mich beschlossen
Ein mordtlich bubenstück.

6 Sprechen: Wann Er ist hingericht,
Er steht nit wider auff:
Judas ir böß fürnemen siht,
Macht uber mich den kauff,
Mein freund tritt mich mit füssen,
Der mit mir aß mein brot,
Seinn geitz damit zu büssen,
Verkaufft mich in den todt.

7 Doch sols nit also auß hingehn,
Was sie mir thun zu leyd:
Am dritten tag werd ich erstehn,
Zu meiner herligkeyt,
Ich wils Ewig verstossen,
So wirt ir mordt bezalt,
In aller welt verlassen,
Im elend manigfalt.

8 Dann du Her Gott hast mich ergetzt,
Für meiner feinde zorn:
Zu deiner rechten hand gesetzt,
Als deinen eingebornn,
Drumb preißt man deinen Namen,
In aller welt so weit,
Und singen Amen Amen,
Von nun in Ewigkeyt.

Wohl mag der sein ein selig Mann

Here is my translation of the psalm paraphrase, “Wohl mag der sein ein selig Mann” (Cornelius Becker, d. 1604), based on Psalm XLI, Beatus qui intelligit, with melody assignment “Wohl dem, der in Gottes Furcht steht.” Of the psalm itself, Vierling (Biblia, 737) writes,

It is a psalm of supplication, in which Christ Himself prophesies and laments his betrayer, Judas, with his fellows, by whom He would be crucified (v. 10), and prays that he may be raised up from death and exalted before God’s face at the right hand (v. 11). But it is extremely comforting that He makes Himself as a sinner in verse 5, when He was without all sin, for He stands and speaks in our person, and bears our sins as though they were His and as if He had done them Himself. But He begins by praising those who take up the cause of the needy (v. 2–3), that is who are not offended at the wretched, crucified “Sinner,” Jesus Christ, but remain firm in Him. For it is more offensive to believe that such a poor, condemned “Sinner” should be so highly lifted up as to sit on teh right hand of God. It is at this that all Jewry took such offense that they still lie broken and scattered, or as it says in verse 11, have been requited by Him.

 

WELL may that man be blest indeed
Who doth consider him in need;
God’s blessing is prepared for him,
And he is saved in th’ evil time.

2 The Lord preserves him body and soul,
Keeps him in life and vigor whole,
He shall be blest upon the earth,
For great in God’s sight is his worth.

3 Though him his enemies would kill,
He is not given to their will,
God gives him strength, and him relieves
When on his sickbed sore he grieves.

4 I said, Have mercy, Lord, on me;
I own my gross iniquity,
I’ve sinned against Thee, Thee deplored;
Oh, heal my soul, my God and Lord!

5 Mine enemies speak ill of me,
My life fills them with agony,
They hope my life may soon be o’er,
And that my name may be no more.

6 They come to see, yet within
Their thoughts are enmity and sin;
They seek the opportunity
To rid them of me utterly.

7 Their hearts are set to calumnize,
Against me they my hurt devise;
Whatever ill may me be done,
That they endeavor, all and one.

8 An evil counsel they have made,
Whereat they revel and are glad,
And say: Now that he fallen lies,
He surely shall no more arise.

9 Mine own familiar friend, the same
Who ate my bread, my foe became;
Beneath his feet he trampled me
And traitor turned all treach’rously.

10 Have mercy on Thy servant, Lord,
And raise me up, them to reward!
By this Thy favor I will know:
When I see no triumphant foe.

11 Thou me uphold’st for faithfulness,
And sett’st me e’er before Thy face;
Blest be the Lord of majesty,
From age to age, eternally!

Translation © 2024 Matthew Carver.

GERMAN

Wohl mag der ſeyn ein ſelig Mann,
Der ſich nimbt des Dürfftigen an,
Ihm iſt Segen von Gott bereit,
Er wird errett zur böſen Zeit.

2  Der HErr Leib und Seel ihm bewart,
Friſch und geſund beym Leben ſpart,
Ihm muß wohlgehn auff dieſer Erd,
Weil Gott ihn helt im Hertzen werth.

3  Ob ihm gleich ſeine Feind nachſtehn,
Muß doch nicht nach ihrm Wille gehn,
Gott ihn erquicket und errett,
Wenn er ligt kranck und ſiech zu Bett.

4  Ich ſprach: Ach HErr, erzeig mir Gnad,
Denn ich bekenn mein Miſſethat,
An dir hab ich geſündigt ſchwer,
Heil meine Seel, o Gott mein Herr.

5  Die Feind reden mir ubel nach,
Mein langes Leben iſt ihr Plag,
Sie hoffen all auff meinen Tod,
Und daß mein werd zu Spott.

6  Sie kommen und beſuchen mich,
Und meinens doch im Hertzen nicht,
Sie ſchawen auff Gelegenheit,
Mich außzutragen weit und breit.
    
7  Auff Leſterung ſie bfleiſſen ſich,
Sie dencken Böſes wieder mich,
Was mir zu Leid geſchehen kan,
Da ſtehn ſie all für einen Man.

8  Es iſt beſchloſſen uber mich
Ein Bubenſtück, des frewn ſie ſich,
Und ſprechen: Wenn er einmal ligt,
Soll er gewiß auffſtehen nicht.

9  Auch dem ich mich vertraut, mein Freund
Der mein Brot aß, wird jetzt mein Feind,
Unter die Füße tritt er mich,
Und gibt mich hin verräterlich.

10  HErr ſey genädig deinem Knecht,
Hilffſtu mir auff, ich zahl ſie recht,
Dabey werd ich dein Gnad wol ſpürn,
Wenn mein Feind nicht mus jubilirn.

11  Umb mein Frömkeit HErr mich erheltſt,
Für dein Antlitz mich ewig ſtellſt,
HErr unſer Gott gelobt allzeit
Von nun an biß in Ewigkeit.