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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"
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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;
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!
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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 general single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2021-10-10
Line count: 48
Word count: 278