by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
Translation © by Emily Ezust

Trachten will ich nicht auf Erden
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  DUT ENG HEB
Trachten will ich nicht auf Erden,
daß ich reich an Gütern werde
Was mich hier beglücken soll,
ist auf Gott gebautes Wohl.
 
Lust nach Geld kann bessre Freuden,
die uns Gott bestimmt, verleiden,
raubt der Tugend Lust und Kraft,
macht oft elend, lasterhaft.
 
Einst an meiner Lebensschranken
werd ich Gott zufrieden danken,
daß er mir bis an mein Grab
Nahrung nur und Decke gab.

Text Authorship:

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

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

  • DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , "Streven wil ik niet op aarde", copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ENG English (Emily Ezust) , "I don't want to strive on earth", copyright © 2020
  • HEB Hebrew (עברית) [singable] (Hamutal Atariah) , "להלל לאל", copyright © 2024, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Researcher for this page: Pamela Narbona Jerez

This text was added to the website: 2009-03-24
Line count: 12
Word count: 64

I don't want to strive on earth
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
I don't want to strive on earth
To be rich in possessions;
What should make me happy here
Is goodness founded upon God.

Desire for money can put us off from
the superior joys that God has ordained for us;
robbing pleasure and strength of virtue,
often making us wretched, dissolute.

One day, at the end of my life,
I will contentedly thank God
For giving me, up to my grave,
Only sustenance and shelter.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2020 by Emily Ezust

    Emily Ezust permits her translations to be reproduced without prior permission for printed (not online) programs to free-admission concerts only, provided the following credit is given:

    Translation copyright © by Emily Ezust,
    from the LiederNet Archive

    For any other purpose, please write to the e-mail address below to request permission and discuss possible fees.


Based on:

 

This text was added to the website: 2020-03-10
Line count: 12
Word count: 75