Oh sadness, oh heartache!

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by Friedrich Spee von Langenfeld (1591 - 1635)

Translation © by Sharon Krebs

Am heiligen Grabe

(Sung text for setting by J. Lang)

See original

Language: German (Deutsch)

Our translations: ENG

O Traurigkeit, o Herzeleid!
Ist das nicht zu beklagen?
Gott des Vaters ein'ge Kind
wird zu Grabe getragen!

O höchstes Gut, unschuld'ges Blut!
Wer hätt das mögen sagen,
daß der Mensch den Schöpfer sollt
an das Kreuz anschlagen.

O heiße Zähr, fließ immer mehr!
Wen sollt das nicht bewegen,
da sich über Christi Tod
auch die Felsen regen.

Wie große Pein, Maria rein,
leid'st du über die Maßen,
du bist ja von jedermann
ganz und gar verlassen.

Wie schwer ist doch der Sünder Joch,
daß es konnt unterdrücken
Gottes Sohn, als er das Kreuz
trug auf seinem Rücken.

O großer Schmerz! O steinern Herz,
steh ab von deinen Sünden,
wenn du willst nach deinem Tod
Gottes Gnade finden.

The first stanza of this text was used in the poem "Ein trauriger Grabgesang" by Johann Rist.

Composition:

Josephine Lang

Text Authorship:

by Friedrich Spee von Langenfeld (1591 - 1635), "O Traurigkeit, o Herzeleid!", written 1628

Go to the general single-text view

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

ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2023, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2023-01-02
Line count: 24
Word count: 134

Oh sadness, oh heartache!

(Sung text translation for setting by J. Lang)

See original

Language: English after the German (Deutsch)

Oh sadness, oh heartache!
Is that not something to lament?
God the Father’s only Child
is being borne to His grave!

Oh greatest treasure, innocent blood!
Who could have said that it
That mankind could nail 
its Creator to the cross.

Oh fervent tear, flow ever more freely!
Who should not be moved by that
since even the rocks
move in response to Christ's death.

What great anguish, chaste Mary,
you suffer beyond all measure, 
for you have been completely and utterly
forsaken by everyone.

How heavy is the yoke of the sinners,
since it could oppress
the Son of God, as he carried 
the cross upon his back.

Oh great pain! Oh stony heart,
leave off from your sins,
if after your death you wish
to find God's grace.

About the headline (FAQ)

Translations of title(s):
"Am heiligen Grabe" = "At the Holy Sepulchre"
"O Traurigkeit, o Herzleid!" = "Oh sadness, oh heartache!"

Text Authorship:

Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2023 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 Friedrich Spee von Langenfeld (1591 - 1635), "O Traurigkeit, o Herzeleid!", written 1628
- Go to the text page.

Go to the general single-text view

This text was added to the website: 2023-01-02
Line count: 24
Word count: 135