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sometimes misattributed to Benjamin Schmolck (1672 - 1737) and by David Neretter (1643? - 1726)
Translation © by Sharon Krebs

Herr! Wenn Trübsal da ist, so suchet man Dich
 (Sung text for setting by J. Lang)
 See original
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  ENG
Ein Christ kann ohne Kreuz nicht sein;
Drum laß dichs nicht betrüben, 
Wenn Gott versucht mit Kreuz und Pein
Die Kinder, die ihn lieben. 
Je lieber Kind, 
Je ernster sind 
Des frommen Vaters Schläge;
Schau, das sind Gottes Wege!

Ein Christ kann ohne Kreuz nicht sein;
Gott wills nicht anders haben: 
Auch dieses Lebens Noth und Pein
Sind deines Vaters Gaben.
Solls denn so sein, 
So geh es ein: 
Es kommt von Liebeshänden,
Gott wird nichts Böses senden.

Ein Christ kann ohne Kreuz nicht sein;
Das Kreuz lehrt fleißig beten, 
Zieht ab vom eitlen Trug und Schein,
Und lehrt zu Jesu treten. 
Drum wirfs nicht hin 
Mit sprödem Sinn, 
Wenns nun zu dir gekommen;
Es soll der Seele frommen!

 ... 

Auch ich will ohne Kreuz nicht sein;
Was Gott schickt will ich tragen!
Schickts doch der liebste Vater mein,
Sinds doch nur kurze Plagen,
Und wohl gemeint!
Wer gläubig weint,
Lebt dort in steten Freuden:
Ich will mit Christo leiden!

Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1-3,6 of the original text.

Composition:

    Set to music by Josephine Lang (1815 - 1880), "Herr! Wenn Trübsal da ist, so suchet man Dich", 1873, published 2025, stanzas 1-3,6 [ voice and piano ], Kassel: Furore Verlag

Text Authorship:

  • sometimes misattributed to Benjamin Schmolck (1672 - 1737)
  • by David Neretter (1643? - 1726), "Ein Christ kann ohne Kreuz nicht sein"

Go to the general single-text view

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

  • ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2021, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Researcher for this page: Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2021-10-10
Line count: 48
Word count: 230

A Christian cannot be without a cross
 (Sung text translation for setting by J. Lang)
 See original
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
A Christian cannot be without a cross;
Therefore do not be cast down 
When God, with cross and suffering, tests
The children whom He loves.
The more beloved the child,
The more serious are
The blows of the pious father;
See, those are God's methods!

A Christian cannot be without a cross;
God does not wish it any other way:
The misery and pain of this life, too,
Are the gifts of your Father.
If it is to be thus,
Accept it:
It comes from loving hands,
God shall not send anything evil.

A Christian cannot be without a cross;
The cross teaches us assiduous prayer,
Draws us away from vain deceit and deception,
And teaches us to come to Jesus.
Therefore do not cast it aside
With a recalcitrant spirit
When it has now come to you;
It is for the benefit of your soul!

 ... 

I, too, do not wish to be without a cross;
What God sends I shall bear!
For it is sent by my most beloved Father,
And they are only brief tribulations,
And well-intentioned!
Those who weep in faith,
Lives over there in perpetual joy:
I wish to suffer with Christ!

About the headline (FAQ)

Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1-3,6 of the original text.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2021 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) misattributed to Benjamin Schmolck (1672 - 1737) and by David Neretter (1643? - 1726), "Ein Christ kann ohne Kreuz nicht sein"
    • Go to the text page.

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website: 2021-10-10
Line count: 48
Word count: 278

Gentle Reminder

This website began in 1995 as a personal project by Emily Ezust, who has 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 help is greatly appreciated!
–Emily Ezust, Founder

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