Theodore Brown Hewitt · 48 of 194

71: O Welt, sieh hier dein Leben.

O Welt, sieh hier dein Leben.--(Goed. 71.)

[Passiontide.]

Cf. Koch IV, 161, 711, 787. First published in Crü. Praxis, 1648, no. 119, in 16 stanzas of 8 lines, reprinted in Wackernagel: no. 15; Bachmann: no. 8; Unv. L. S.: 1851, no. 113. Stanzas III-V were favorites with J. S. Bach and used by him in his St. Matthew and St. John Passion Music.

English Versions:

1. Extended on a cursed tree.

A free translation in long metre by J. Wesley, of stanzas I, III, IV, VI, VIII-XI, XVI, in Hymns and Sacred Poems, 1740 (P. Works, 1868-72, Vol. I, p. 232), and thence in the Wesleyan H. Bk., 1780, and since in other hymn books of the Methodists. The translation of stanzas IX-XI, XVI, beginning "My Savior, how shall I proclaim" were included in the American Sabbath Hymn Book, 1858, and the Baptist Service of Song, Boston, 1871.

2. See, World, upon the bloody tree.

A translation by P. H. Molther of stanzas I-X in the Moravian H. Bk., 1742, 1754. In the 1789 and 1886 eds. it is altered to "See, World, upon the shameful tree." The hymn appears in several English hymn books in different abridged forms.

3. O, World! behold upon the tree.

A good translation omitting stanza VII, by Miss Winkworth, in the 2d Series, 1858, of her Lyra Ger., and thence in Schaff's Christ in Song ed. 1869, p. 174, and slightly altered and beginning:

4. Here, World, see thy Redeemer.

In the Suppl. to Ger. Psalmody, ed. 1765, p. 16.

5. O World! attention lend it.

J. Gambold, as no. 442 in pt. I of the Moravian H. Bk., 1754. Altered to "O World, see thy Creator." (1886, no. 94.)

6. O World! see thy life languish.

J. D. Burns, in the Family Treasury, 1859, pt. I, p. 54, also in his Memoir and Remains, 1869, p. 246.

7. See World! thy Life assailed.

J. Kelly, 1867, p. 54.

8. Here, World, thy great Salvation see.

Dr. J. Guthrie, 1869, p. 87.

9. O World! see here suspended.

In Reid's Praise Book, 1872, no. 1009.

10. Behold, O World, thy Life, thy Lord.

Dr. R. Maguire, 1883, p. 143.

Selected Stanzas:

J. Gambold in Part I of the 1734 edition of the Moravian Hymn Book.

P. H. Molther in Part I of the 1754 edition of the Moravian Hymn Book.

Note in the above stanzas the inconsistencies in capitalization.

Miss Winkworth, in her Lyra Germanica, 1858.