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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:
- Set to music by Josephine Lang (1815 - 1880), "Am heiligen Grabe", 1876, published 2025 [ voice and piano ], Kassel: Furore Verlag
Text Authorship:
- by Friedrich Spee von Langenfeld (1591 - 1635), "O Traurigkeit, o Herzeleid!", written 1628
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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! 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.
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.
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Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Friedrich Spee von Langenfeld (1591 - 1635), "O Traurigkeit, o Herzeleid!", written 1628
Go to the general single-text view
This text was added to the website: 2023-01-02
Line count: 24
Word count: 135