An dir, allein an dir hab ich gesündigt

An dir, allein an dir hab ich gesündigt,
Und übel oft vor dir getan.
Du siehst die Schuld, die mir den Fluch verkündigt;
Sieh, Gott, auch meinen Jammer an.

Dir ist mein Flehn, mein Seufzen nicht verborgen,
Und meine Tränen sind vor dir.
Ach Gott, mein Gott, wie lange soll ich sorgen?
Wie lang entfernst du dich von mir?

Herr, handle nicht mit mir nach meinen Sünden,
Vergilt mir nicht nach meiner Schuld.
Ich suche dich, laß mich dein Antlitz finden,
Du Gott der Langmut und Geduld.

Früh wollst du mich mit deiner Gnade füllen,
Gott, Vater der Barmherzigeit.
Erfreue mich um deines Namens willen,
Du bist mein Gott, der gern erfreut.

Laß deinen Weg mich wieder freudig wallen
Und lehre mich dein heilig Recht
Mich täglich tun nach deinem Wohlgefallen;
Du bist mein Gott, ich bin dein Knecht.

Herr, eile du, mein Schutz, mir beizustehen,
Und leite mich auf ebner Bahn.
Er hört mein Schrei'n, der Herr erhört mein Flehen
Und nimmt sich meiner Seele an.

Translation(s): DUT ENG FRE ITA ITA

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Authorship

• by Christian Fürchtegott Gellert (1715 - 1769) [ author's text not yet checked against a primary source]

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive)

• by Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach (1714 - 1788), "Bußlied", Wq. 194 no. 46, H. 686 no. 46, stanzas 1-3,6 [voice and harpsichord or piano], from the collection Gellert-Lieder, no. 46. [
   text verified 1 time
  ]
• by Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827), "Bußlied", op. 48 no. 6 (1803), from Sechs Lieder nach Gedichten von Gellert, no. 6. [
   text verified 1 time
  ]

Available translations, adaptations, and transliterations (if applicable):

• ENG English (Emily Ezust) , title 1: "Song of penance", copyright ©
• FRE French (Français) (Angelika Frenzel) , title 1: "Chant de pénitence", copyright © 2003, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
• ITA Italian (Italiano) (Amelia Maria Imbarrato) , title 1: "Canto di penitenza", copyright © 2006, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
• DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , title 1: "Boetelied", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
• ITA Italian (Italiano) (Marco Crosetto) , title 1: "Inno di penitenza", copyright © 2014, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Text added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.

Gentle Reminder

This website began in 1995 as a personal project, and I have been working on it full-time without a salary since 2008. Our research has never had any government or institutional funding, so if you found the information here useful, please consider making a donation. Your gift is greatly appreciated.      - Emily Ezust

Song of penance

Against You alone have I sinned,
and have often done evil before You.
You see the guilt that deserves Your curse;
see also, God, my suffering.

From You I do not hide my prayers and sighs,
and my tears are before You.
Ah, God, my God, how long should I suffer?
How long will You leave me?

Lord, treat me not according to my sins,
Treat me not according to my guilt.
I seek for You; let me find Your face,
God of forbearance and patience.

May you fill me early with Your grace,
God, Father of Mercy.
Help me for Your name's sake,
You are my God, who gladly helps.

Let me once again happily walk your path
and teach me Your sacred law
so that I can mold myself daily to Your will;
You are my God, I am Your servant.

Lord, hurry to my aid, my Protector,
and lead me on the right path.
He hears my cries, the Lord hears my prayer
and takes my soul in charge.

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Authorship

• Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © by Emily Ezust

  Emily Ezust permits her translations to be reproduced without prior permission for printed (not online) programs to free-admission concerts only, provided the following credit is given:

  Translation copyright © by Emily Ezust,
  from the LiederNet Archive -- http://www.lieder.net/

  For any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.
  
  
  (licenses at lieder dot net)
  
  
  

• a text in German (Deutsch) by Christian Fürchtegott Gellert (1715 - 1769) DUT FRE ITA ITA
• This text was set to music by the following composer(s): Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, Ludwig van Beethoven. Go to the text.

Text added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.