by
Wilhelm Busch (1832 - 1908)
Mein kleinster Fehler is der Neid
Language: German (Deutsch)
Mein kleinster Fehler is der Neid. --
Aufrichtigkeit, Bescheidenheit,
Dienstfertigkeit und Frömmigkeit,
Obschon es herrlich schöne Gaben,
Die gönn ich allen, die sie haben.
Nur wenn ich sehe, daß der Schlechte
Das kreigt, was ich gern selber möchte;
Nur wenn ich leider in der Nähe
So viele böse Menschen sehe,
Und wenn ich dann so oft bemerke,
Wie sie durch sittenlose Werke,
Den lasterhaften Leib ergötzen,
Das freilich tut mich tief verletzen.
Sonst, wie gesagt, bin ich hienieden
Gott lob und dank so recht zufrieden.
About the headline (FAQ)
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):
- by Gary Bachlund (b. 1947), "Mein kleinster Fehler", 2007 [ medium-high voice and piano ] [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Hans Gál (1890 - 1987), "Der Zufriedene", op. 40 no. 2 (1934?), published 1934, first performed c1934 [ TTBB chorus and piano ], from Drei Idyllen, no. 2, Breitkopf & Härtel, Leipzig [sung text not yet checked]
- by Franz Mittler (1893 - 1970), "Eine gute Seele" [ voice and piano ], confirmed with a CD booklet [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Gary Bachlund) , "My smallest failing", copyright © 2007, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [
Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2008-02-12
Line count: 15
Word count: 84
My smallest failing
Language: English after the German (Deutsch)
My smallest failing is jealousy. --
Sincerity, modesty,
Craftsmanship, piety,
Obviously the greatest of God's gifts,
All of which I am pleased to have.
Only when I see, that which the worst
Have acquired, that which I wish I had;
Only when I am sadly see
Such awfully bad men all round me,
And when I so often take notice,
How through their immoral works
They are so enthralled with their own depravity,
Then truly am I wounded.
Here below am I, therefore,
So ready to be praising God.
Text Authorship:
Based on:
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [
Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2009-03-13
Line count: 15
Word count: 88