Richt mich, Herr Gott, führ mir mein Sach

Here is my translation of the psalm paraphrase, “Richt mich, Herr Gott, führ mir mein Sach” (Burkard Waldis, d. 1556), based on Psalm XLIII, Judica me Deus, with title “A supplication that God would let His Word return to His church.” A note after the beginning of the doxological stanza marked (¶) refers to that given in the foregoing paraphrase for Psalm XLII, of the same meter (847.847.827.827), but here a different G-Dorian melody likewise by Waldis. The similarities of meter and mode may reflect the intrinsic connection of the two psalms, and the fact that they are sometimes seen as one. Waldis in this way thoughtfully allows for both to be sung together to one or the other melody. Zahn interprets the slur over Leu- in the bar a little differently, though perhaps his version agrees also with that in Heugel’s tenor line, whereas the book has seems to have three notes on ti- and only one each on -gen and Leu-.

 

JUDGE me, O God, and plead my cause,
Uphold Thy laws,
Against the race o’erweening,
Deliver me from all their fraud,
O Lord my God,
Who twist Thy Word and meaning.
Thou art my God, my strength and might,
My Light:
Cast not away Thy creature,
When foes in all unrighteousness
Oppress
Thy Word and its true teacher!

2 Send me Thy light and truth with speed,
And thither lead,
Where Thy Word ever soundeth,
And give me for my mournful grief
Joy and relief,
Till Thy praise more aboundeth.
Because Thou art my heart’s delight,
No fright
Of foes shall me be harming;
I will recall, as psalt’ries play
Alway
Thy praises ever charming.

3 Alas, my soul, what aileth thee
So fretfully,
My heart, what makes thee fearful?
Abide thou yet a little hour,
God’s pow’r
Is sure to make thee cheerful.
I know the Lord shall bring some boon
Right soon,
My face with light imbuing.
Therefore my thanks to Him I will
Give still,
His praises e’er renewing.

¶ O God the Father, grant that we
To Thee may be
Forever firmly cleaving,
And Thee, in Thy beloved Son,
Our Hope alone,
Desire with heart believing;
Thy Spirit keep us in this grace,
Who place
Our trust in His defending;
So may we keep all Thou dost say
That Day
And stand in faith unbending!

Translation © 2024 Matthew Carver.

GERMAN

Richt mich, Herr Got, für mir mein sach,
Und gibs nit nach,
Den hoffertigen leuten,
Errett mich von jr falschen leer,
O Got mein herr,
Die dein wort fälschlich deuten,
Du bist mein got, mein macht und sterck,
Dein werck
Laß nit so gar verstossen,
Wann mich der feind in unglück brengt,
Und drengt
Mit seinen bundgenossen.

2 Send mir dein liecht, und dein warheyt,
Mich dahin leyt
Da ich dein wort mög hören,
Auff das verwandelt werd mein leyd,
In wonn und freud,
Deinn lob und preiß zu mehren,
Weil du meins hertzenfreude bist,
Kein list
Der feinde mich mag krencken,
Mit harpffen und auff seytenspil
Stedts wil
Ich deines lobs gedencken.

3 Ach meine seel, was krenckstu mich
So ängstiglich,
Und machst mein hertzen bange,
Verzeuch doch noch ein kleine weil,
Zu sehr nit eil,
Und laß dich nit verlangen,
Ich weyß der HERR wirt helffen mir
Gar schir,
Mein antlitz gar erfrewen,
So wil ich dann mein leben lang
Mit danck
Sein lob allzeit vernewen.

¶ Das gib Got Vatter alle zeit, &c.
Wie im nechsten psalmen hievor.

[¶ Das gib Got Vatter allezeit
Mit gnad und freud,
Daß wir stedts an dir hangen:
Nach dir in deinem lieben Son,
Dem heyland fron,
Hertziglich lan verlangen,
Dein Geyst an solcher gnad erhalt,
Und unser walt,
Wann uns die feind verklagen,
Dann laß uns an deins worts zusag
Am jüngsten tag
Bestehn, und nit verzagen.]

Gott, führ mein Sach und richte mich

Here is my translation of the psalm paraphrase, “Gott, führ mein Sach und richte mich” (Cornelius Becker, d. 1604), based on Psalm XLIII, Judica me Deus, with melody assignment “Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott.” Note that Becker retains the “refrain” wording from the previous hymn (here the beginning of stanza 3), but perhaps because of the meter changes the ending; which I reflect here, borrowing from my own translation in the counterpart-hymn, “Like as a hart seeks hastily.” For centuries the psalm itself has been recognized as related to the foregoing psalm in some way. Vierling writes (Biblia, 739), “It is of the same thrust as the previous psalm, and almost of the same wording with it, for he also desires to go to the house of God through light and truth, that is, to be comforted with God’s Word in his despondency.”

 

JUDGE me, O God, and plead my cause,
Repel the godless nation,
From him who lies and breaks Thy laws,
Oh, bring me Thy salvation:
God, my strength and stay,
Cast me not away,
Let me not go e’er
In mourning and despair
Because my foe oppresseth!

2 O send Thy light of truth to me,
Lead me, Thy ways progressing,
To Thy dear church that worships Thee,
That I may have the blessing;
God, to Thee I come,
Of all joys the sum,
And will joyfully
Upon the harp praise Thee,
O God, my God most faithful!

3 Why art thou cast down, O my soul,
What can so restless make thee?
Hope thou in God and His control;
He never will forsake thee.
I shall yet Him praise
For His faithful ways;
He my God abides
And ever help provides
By His great grace and favor.

Translation © 2024 Matthew Carver.

GERMAN

GOtt, führ mein Sach und richte mich,
Die Unheilgen beſtreite,
Errette mich genädiglich,
Von falſchen böſen Leuten,
HErr mein Zuverſicht,
Verſtoß mich doch nicht,
Laß mich nicht hülffloß
In Schmertz und Trauren groß,
Wenn mich mein Feind bedränget.

2  Send mir das Licht der Wareit dein,
Zu gehn auff deinen Wegen,
Leit mich zur lieben Chriſten Gmein,
Daß ich empfah den Segen,
Und zu dir, HErr, kom,
Hab gros Frewd und Wonn,
So wil ich fröhlich
Auff Harffen loben dich,
O Gott, mein trewer HErre.

3  Was betrübſtu dich meine Seel,
Haſt Unruh früh und ſpate.
Harr nur auff Gott, allm Ungefell
Weis er gar wol zu rathen.
Zuletzt ich ihm noch
Werd danckſagen hoch,
Daß Er mein Gott iſt,
Mir hilfft zu aller Friſt
Durch ſeine groſſe Gnade.