Dend II. Sang.
A Call to Repentance
The soul is exhorted to awaken from spiritual lethargy and begin the work of sincere lamentation.
Come, my soul, and let us weep—oh! Weep, my flesh and you, Let tears of lamentation flow From my eyes, heart, and soul! Empty this foul heart of all shame from impurity, fill it with sighs and pain, and cast away all wickedness. And if a fleeting thought of pleasure knocks at your door, let it wander off to hell and stand outside of you! Come, let me cast the world behind my back completely, and hurry to my Jesus with repentance. Oh, my soul! Where is my healing? Where are the words of your promises, that I have often called upon in my dust and humiliation? What good did it do when a flood of tears streamed down my cheeks, the last time I emptied my heart at the confessional?
The Mirror of the Commandments
A rigorous self-examination against the Decalogue reveals the depth of the speaker's corruption and failure.
Have I lived according to the Lord's commands? Am I, as I was then, washed clean, not stained again? Is my heart not hardened? Is my tongue free from lies? Has my eye not led me into the path of sin? Ah! Yes, I must lament, with a cry and a scream to heaven, that my strength is weak; there’s nothing good in me! My spirit praises all that is good, and my will seems good, but the deed sleeps in my corrupted blood. My love for God isn't as sweet as the love I know how to bear for the world, for blood, and for flesh. I don't love my neighbor with true affection, but I scramble for the best of his possessions and his bitter sweat. I've worshiped false gods, wealth, honor, friends, and pleasure, and I've strengthened myself in the world, which has pierced my heart. My heavy lies and curses, deceit and hypocrisy mix with sweet flattery and make me speak falsely. The Sabbath, which should be my sweet day of rest, is for God and for His glory; it is only a pleasure for me to fill my delight, a time for church-going, to adorn and beautify the six days of sinful desires. I don't listen to my parents or my own conscience, because what they justly demand often makes me angry. My heart and mind want to go their own way; my soul is dead and indifferent to fulfilling my duty. I have killed my neighbor, not to death, but I have often strived to make him a target for the sword and edge of my tongue without any fault of his own. I have also wanted to inflict wounds on his tender sores. Unchaste talk, loose words and deeds, and a desire for pleasure are the counsel of the heart; the lustful eye is set on the actions of the harlot, and the sweet pleasures of the flesh cause deep wounds in the soul. I've been driven to theft, I've been deceitful in my dealings; I've written X for V, and I've been false and treacherous. With deceit, I've betrayed my neighbor's blood and sweat, and yet I've still boasted highly of my own righteousness. I often hold back the truth, and I love lies and nonsense. I set traps for my close friend; I bite at my neighbor's name and character like a dog, and I dampen his honor with my tongue, pen, and mouth. I seek my neighbor's house, and I know it well; his wife, like a temptress, stands in my sight. I envy his happiness, wealth, and honor, and often I cut a piece away from his good and right.
The Burden of Sin
The speaker acknowledges the weight of their sin and the resulting anguish of the soul.
Look! This is my lament; it is the anguish of my heart, the torment of my soul, and my distress night and day. I am a shameful sinner against God's commands and word, and I love the fleeting sounds that are the death of my soul.
Seeking the Healer at the Cross
The repentant sinner turns to the Cross of Jesus, seeking the cleansing power of His blood and the assurance of forgiveness.
I wrap myself in my sin and shame and run to your threshold, casting my burden down there. I kneel before my Jesus and show him my wounds, longing for the healer who chooses me with many a brave tear. I sigh deeply and look up to heaven; I bow down to the earth, becoming more and more like water. I bite my tongue, howl like a dog, struggle within my mind, and strike my mouth. Ah! Let the heavens rain down with drops of comfort; you see where I might crawl in the weakness of my soul. I turn my thirsty heart's cup to Jesus' Cross, where Jesus' Blood flows down in full measure from heaven. The Blood will cleanse me and give light and spirit, to correct my sinful life, to which your right hand will guide my heart itself; I have no power to do this on my own, for the flesh will always resist against the soul's heavenly nature. So I will step forward to your confession seat, and weep for your grace's stream! Ah! Let me hear that your sin is forgiven; then my mouth will proclaim your praise with a thousand thanks.
Read the original Latin
Kom, Siæl, og lad os græde, Ach! græd, mit kiød og du, Øes op en Jammers Væde Fra Øyne, Sind og Hu! Tøm ud det fule Hierte Fra ald Urenheds Skam, Fyld det med Suk og Smerte, Kast af ald Ondskabs Ham.
Og om en flyve-tanke Af Vellyst banker paa, Lad dend til Helved vanke Og fra dig ude staa! Kom lad mig Verden kaste Bag Ryggen gandske hen, Og til min JEsum haste Med Poenitentz igien.
Mens, ach! Hvor er min Bedring? Hvor er de Løfters Ord, Som jeg i Støvs Fornedring Saa mangen gang har gjord? Hvad frugted det der strømde En Flood af Kinden ned, Da sidst jeg Hiertet tømde Paa Skrifte-stolens sted.
Har jeg mit Levnet retted Og holdet HErrens Bud? Er jeg, som da blev tvetted, Igien ey sølet ud? Er Hiertet ey forstokked? Er Tungen Løgne-frii? Har Øyet ikke lokked Min Food til Syndens-Stii?
Ach! Jo jeg maa beklage, Med Skraal og Himmel-skrig, At Kræftern’ ere svage, Der boer ey got i mig! Min Aand alt got udlover, Og Vilien synis good, Men Gierningen hun sover I mit fordærved Blood.
Min Kiærlighed (diß værre) Til GUD er ey saa sød, Som dend jeg veed at bære Til Verden, Blood og Kiød: Jeg elsker ey min Næste Med grundig Kierlighed, Men skakrer mig til beste Hans Gods og sure Sved.
Jeg har Afguder dyrket, Gods, Ære, Venner, Lyst, Og mig i Verden styrket, Dend til mit Hierte kryst. Min tunge Løgn og Bander, Bedrag og Hykklerj Med Smigre-sukker blander Og giør sig snakke-frj.
Sabbaten, som bør være Min søde Hviledag, For GUD og for hans Ære Dend er kun en Behag Min Vellyst op at fylde, En Tjmes Kirke-fær Kand sminke og forgylde Sex Dagis Synds Begier.
Forældre jeg ey lyder, Og ey min Øfrighed, For det de billig byder, Jeg ofte giør mig vred: Min egen Hu og Hoved Paa egen Haand vil gaa, Mit Sind er dødt og doved Til lydig Pligt at faa.
Min Næste hâr jeg dræbet, om ey til døde slæt, Dog hâr jeg ofte stræbet, At hand er bleven sæt For Tungens Sverd og Egge Foruden nogen skyld, Jeg hâr og vildet legge Saar paa hans ømme Byld.
Utugtig Snak og Tale, Løßagtig Ord og Daad, Begierlighed at svale Er Hiertets Lyste-raad: Vellysters Tindre-øye Til Skøgens Fagter staar, Og Kiødets søde Møye Giør Siælen dybe Skaar.
Jeg Tyverj hâr drevet, I Handel været sleedsk, Jeg X for V hâr skrevet, Og været falsk og tredsk: Med Træck hâr jeg udsuet Min Næstis Blood og Sved, Og hâr dog høyt opskruet Min sær Retfærdighed.
Jeg Sandhed ofte sparer, Og elsker Løgn og Tant, Ja legger Reve-snarer Tiit for min nær Forvant; Min Næstis Navn og Lempe Jeg bider som en Hund, Og tør hans Ære dempe Med Tunge, Pen og Mund.
Min Næstis Huus at søge Jeg treskeligen veed, Hans Hustro, som en Skiøge, Staar i mit Øyis Meed, Hans Lykke, Gods og Ære Jeg ham mißunder slæt, Og tiit en Flig tør skiære Bort fra hans Gavn og Ræt.
See! dette er min Klage, Det er mit Hiertis Nag, Det er min Siælis Plage, Min Uroe Nat og Dag! Jeg skammelig forbryder Mig mod GUds Bud og Ord, Og elsker faure Lyder, Som er min Siælis Mord.
Jeg derfor mig indsvøber Udi min Synd og Skam, Og til din Forgaard løber, Nedkaster der min Ham: Jeg for min JEsu knæler Og viser mine Saar, Begierer Læge-væler Med mangen modig Taar.
Jeg hierteligen sukker Og op til Himlen seer, Jeg mig mod Jorden bukker, Jeg vaandis meer og meer, Jeg i min Tunge bider, Jeg haanis som en Hund, Jeg mig i Sindet slider, Jeg slaar mig paa min Mund.
Ach! lad dog Himlen drybe Med trøste-draaber ned, Du seer hvor jeg mon krybe I Siæls Afmægtighed: Til JEsu Kors jeg Helder Min tørstig Hierte-skaal, Hvor JEsu Blood nedvelder I fulde Himmel-maal.
Det Blod skal mig besprette Og give Ljv og Aand, Mit syndig ljv at rette, Hvortil din høyre Haand Mit Hierte selv skal bøye, Jeg har ey selv dend Magt, Thi Kiødet vil alt krøye Mod Siælens Himmel-agt.
Saa vil jeg derpaa træde Frem til din Skrifte-stool, Og om Afløßning græde For dig ald Naadis Sool! Ack! lad mig faa at høre, Din Synd er soned, gak: Saa skal min Mund udføre Din Lof med tusind Tak.
Spiritual Songs (Selection) companion
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