by Anonymous / Unidentified Author and by
Justus Jonas (1493 - 1555)
Choral e Recitativo. Was Menschenkraft...
Language: German (Deutsch)
Available translation(s): ENG FRE
Was Menschenkraft und -witz anfäht,
Soll uns billig nicht schrecken;
Denn Gott der Höchste steht uns bei
Und machet uns von ihren Stricken frei.
Er sitzet an der höchsten Stätt,
Er wird ihrn Rat aufdecken.
Die Gott im Glauben fest umfassen,
Will er niemals versäumen noch verlassen;
Er stürzet der Verkehrten Rat
Und hindert ihre böse Tat.
Wenn sie's aufs klügste greifen an,
Auf Schlangenlist und falsche Ränke sinnen,
Der Bosheit Endzweck zu gewinnen;
So geht doch Gott ein ander Bahn:
Er führt die Seinigen mit starker Hand,
Durchs Kreuzesmeer, in das gelobte Land,
Da wird er alles Unglück wenden.
Es steht in seinen Händen.
Note: lines 1-2, 5-6, 11, 14, and 18 are by Justus Jonas; the rest are by an unknown author.
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):
- ENG English (Michael P Rosewall) , "Chorus and Recitative. What human strength and ingenuity can devise", copyright © 2023, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , " Choral et Récitatif. Ce que le pouvoir et l'esprit humains conçoivent", copyright © 2020, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [
Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2020-01-23
Line count: 18
Word count: 105
Chorus and Recitative. What human strength and ingenuity can devise
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch)
What human strength and ingenuity can devise
Should in no way frighten us;
For God the almighty stands with us
And sets us free from all their scheming.
He sits on the highest place,
He will expose their judgement.
For those who hold fast to faith in God,
He will never neglect nor forsake them;
He abolishes the counsel of wicked men
And frustrates their evil deeds.
When they cunningly attack,
Crafting elaborate plots with a serpent’s guile,
To achieve their wicked ends,
God goes in another direction:
He guides his people with a strong hand,
Crossing the sea into the promised land,
Where he will set aside all hardships.
It is within his hands.
Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2023 by Michael P Rosewall, (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:
This text was added to the website: 2023-07-23
Line count: 18
Word count: 115