Why Art Thou Thus Cast Down, My Heart?

Hans Sachs 1494 (Nuremberg) – 1576 (Nuremberg)



Why art thou thus cast down, my heart?
Why troubled, why dost mourn apart,
O'er nought but earthly wealth?
Trust in thy God, be not afraid,
He is thy Friend who all things made.

Dost think thy prayers He doth not heed?
He knows full well what thou dost need,
And heaven and earth are His;
My Father and my God, who still
Is with my soul in every ill.

Since Thou my God and Father art,
I know Thy faithful loving heart
Will ne'er forget Thy child;
See I am poor, I am but dust,
On earth is none whom I can trust.

The rich man in his wealth confides,
But in my God my trust abides;
Then laugh ye as ye will,
I hold this fast that He hath taught,--
Who trusts in God shall want for nought.

Yes, Lord, Thou art as rich to-day
As Thou hast been and shalt be aye,
I rest on Thee alone;
Thy riches to my soul be given,
And 't is enough for earth and heaven.

What here may shine I all resign,
If the eternal crown be mine,
That through Thy bitter death
Thou gainedst, O Lord Christ, for me--
For this, for this, I cry to Thee!

All wealth, all glories, here below,
The best that this world can bestow,
Silver or gold or lands,
But for a little time is given,
And helps us not to enter heaven.
I thank Thee, Christ, Eternal Lord,
That Thou hast taught me by Thy word
To know this truth and Thee;
O grant me also steadfastness
Thy heavenly kingdom not to miss.

Praise, honour, thanks, to Thee be brought,
For all things in and for me wrought
By Thy great mercy, Christ.
This one thing only still I pray,
Oh cast me ne'er from Thee away

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Submitted on May 13, 2011

Modified on March 05, 2023

1:33 min read
105

Quick analysis:

Scheme AAXBB CCXDD AAXEE FFDGA HXXII JJXKK LLXIIXXKXX GGXHH
Closest metre Iambic tetrameter
Characters 1,488
Words 308
Stanzas 8
Stanza Lengths 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 10, 5

Hans Sachs

Hans Sachs was a German Meistersinger ("mastersinger"), poet, playwright, and shoemaker. more…

All Hans Sachs poems | Hans Sachs Books

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