23: Noch dennoch must du drum nicht ganz.

Noch dennoch must du drum nicht ganz.--(Goed. 23.)

Appeared in the Crü. Praxis, 1656, no. 814.

This hymn of consolation seems to refer to some particular disaster that had befallen the community during the Thirty Years' War. The "drum" in line 1 may possibly refer to some address or announcement made to the congregation.

The poem has been well translated in full by J. Kelly, 1867, p. 230. He makes no attempt to render the doubtful meaning above referred to in the word "drum." On the other hand his interpretations of several rather obscure lines (cf. lines 29 and 43 below) are undoubtedly correct.

Lines 29, 30 are rendered:

and lines 43, 44:

In this last citation Kelly is right in assuming it is not literally the "army" but rather the congregation or community that Gerhardt is here addressing.

Wie soll ich dich empfangen.--(Goed. 25.)

(Cf. p. 82.)