Attention! Some of this material is not in the public domain.
It is illegal to copy and distribute our copyright-protected material without permission. It is also illegal to reprint copyright texts or translations without the name of the author or translator.
To inquire about permissions and rates, contact Emily Ezust at licenses@email.lieder.example.net
If you wish to reprint translations, please make sure you include the names of the translators in your email. They are below each translation.
Note: You must use the copyright symbol © when you reprint copyright-protected material.
Mild und mächtiges Erbarmen, Kehr die Augen von mir Armen Doch nicht ab, Von der Notdurft, die beklommen Sich vom Tod fühlt hingenommen In das Grab! S'ist gesiegelt und gegeben: Sterben muß einst alles Leben Allzumal; Was da Dauer lügt und währet, Ob sich's stundet, ob sich's jähret, Kommt's zu Fall. Großer Gott, der lebt unendlich, Hilf mir, der ich sterb elendlich; Und dein Wort, Das mir hat den Tod gegeben, Helf hinwieder mir zu leben Ewig fort. Nun ist's düster schon und traurig, Lästig, leidsam, abendschaurig Hier im Tal, Drin ich tastend niederschwanke; Und die Lichter hell und blanke Loschen all. Du, der ist und war vorhanden, Du, der sein wird, auferstanden Aus dem Grab, Kämpf mit mir den Kampf, Geselle, Kämpfer, quer durch Tod und Hölle, Laß nicht ab! Frei mein arme Seel, o frommer Fechter, daß sie zu dir komme Unverschmäht, Daß sie, dir im Schoß geborgen Nach den bittern Erdesorgen Ruhen geht. Ruhen geht und Licht anschauen, Ruhen geht und Friede bauen In dem Land, Da kein Auge hingekommen, Das kein Ohr noch je vernommen, Kein Verstand.
Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada, but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.
Confirmed with Rudolf Alexander Schröder, Gesammelte Werke in Fünf Bänden, Erster Band, Die Gedichte, Berlin und Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkamp Verlag, 1952, pages 675-676.
Text Authorship:
- by Rudolf Alexander Schröder (1878 - 1962), "Mild und mächtiges Erbarmen", appears in Gedichte, in Die Übersetzungen, in Aus dem Niederländischen [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in Dutch (Nederlands) by Guido (Pieter Theodoor Jozef) Gezelle (1830 - 1899), "Requiem", written 1891
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Armin Knab (1881 - 1951), "Mild und mächtiges Erbarmen" [ four-part mixed chorus a cappella ] [sung text not yet checked]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , "Gentle and mighty mercy", copyright © 2024, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Sharon Krebs [Guest Editor] , Harry Joelson
This text was added to the website: 2022-01-17
Line count: 42
Word count: 181
Gentle and mighty mercy, From me, the poor wretch, do not Avert your eyes, From my need that, anguished, Feels taken up by death Into the grave! It is sealed and determined: All life must someday die, All of it; That which lies [when it promises] permanence, Though it lasts an hour, though it lasts a year, It [eventually] collapses. Great God, who lives unendingly, Help me, who dies in misery; And Thy Word That has ordained death for me, Help me again to live on Eternally. Now it is already gloomy and sad, Irksome, miserable, filled with evening eeriness Here in the valley, In which I gropingly totter downward; And the lights, bright and shining, Have all gone out. Thou, who art and were present, Thou, who shall be, arisen From the grave, Fight with me the battle, comrade, Battler, straight through death and hell, Do not cease! Free my poor soul, oh pious Fencer, that it may come to Thee Without being rejected, That it may, secure in Thy lap After the bitter anxieties of earth, Go to rest. Go to rest and gaze upon light, Go to rest and build peace In that land Onto which no eye has fallen, Which no ear has ever heard, No understanding.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2024 by Sharon Krebs, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Rudolf Alexander Schröder (1878 - 1962), "Mild und mächtiges Erbarmen", appears in Gedichte, in Die Übersetzungen, in Aus dem Niederländischen
Based on:
- a text in Dutch (Nederlands) by Guido (Pieter Theodoor Jozef) Gezelle (1830 - 1899), "Requiem", written 1891
This text was added to the website: 2024-10-14
Line count: 42
Word count: 211