Chorale Texts used in Bach's Vocal Works
Erbarm dich mein, o Herre Gott
Text and Translation of Chorale

Ref. in hymnals/hymn books: NLGB 256; OB 68, GH 258
Author: Erhart Hegenwalt (1524), based on Psalm 51 Miserere mei, Dominus
Chorale Melody: Erbarm dich mein, o Herre Gott (Zahn 5851) | Composer: Anon (probably Johann Walter) (Wittenberg, 1524)
Theme: Psalm Hymn; Passiontide, Peintence
Comments: Hymnary.org & Monarchieliga present all 5 verses; Bach Digital presents only verses 1,2,5.

Description:

The hymn, “Erbarm’ dich mein, O Herre Gott,” a translation of Psalm 51, was published in the Enchiridion Oder eyn Handbuchlein (Erfurt, 1524) and in Johann Walter’s Wittenberg Hymn-book in the same year, in the latter with the melody supra. The author of the hymn, Erhart Hegenwalt, appears to have been a student and graduate of Wittenberg and a contemporary of Martin Luther and J. Walter there. The melody is reminiscent of “Es woll’ uns Gott” and is with great probability J. Walter’s composition. J.S. Bach uses it in the Organ movement infra and there is a four-part setting of it among the Choralgesange, No. 78. His text, like Witt’s (No. 258), closely follows the original.
Source: Charles Sanford Terry: Johann Sebastian Bach, Bach’s Chorals, vol. 3 The Hymns and Hymn Melodies of the Organ Works (1921), pp 48, 143-145

Erbarm dich mein, O Herre Gott. Psalm LI. First published on a broadsheet dated "Wittenberg freytag nach Epiphanie im 1524 Jar. Erhart Hegenwalt." Thence in Eyn Enchiridion, Erfurt, 1524, Wackernagel, iii. p. 48, the Unverfälscher Liedersegen, 1851, No. 366, &c, in 5 stanzas. of 8 lines. Translated as: (1) "O God, be mercyfull to me," by Bp. Coverdale, 1539 (Remains, 1846, p. 576). (2) "Shew pity, Lord! O Lord forgive," by J. C. Jacobi, 1722, p. 59 (1732, p. 95), and as No. 120 in pt. i. of the Moravian Hymn Book, 1754. Jacobi borrows a good many lines from Isaac Watts's version of Ps. li. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.]
Source: Hymnary.org

One the designated hymns for Reminiscere in the NLGB is the Erhart Hegenwalt (16th c.) paraphrase setting of Penitential Psalm 51, "Erbarm dich mein, o Herre Gott, nach deiner großen Barmherzigkeit" (Have pity on me, O Lord God, according to thy great mercy). It was published in 1524 in the Erfurt Enchiridion, set to the Johann Walter? melody (Zahn 5851, http://imslp.org/wiki/Erbarm_dich_mein%2C_o_Herre_Gott_(Walter%2C_Johann)), as a five eight-line stanza Bar form liturgical Psalm hymn texts (http://matthaeusglyptes.blogspot.com/2009/11/erbarm-dich-mein-o-herre-gott.html). E. Hegenwalt was a student at Wittenberg University and his hymn was known by Martin Luther. The melody is reminiscent of "Es woll' uns Gott genädig sein" May God be gracious to us," the M. Luther/Matthias Greiter 1524 hymn, says Charles S. Terry. It is found in the NLGB as No. 256 (Psalm Hymn), also designated hymn for the Sundays in Trinity 3, 11, 14, and 22). It is listed in the Orgelbüchlein as No. 68 (Passiontide, Peintence), source Witt's Gotha Hymnal 1715, No. 258, but not set. It is found in Schmelli No. 70, Repentance Song.
Besides the aria "Erbarme dich, mein Gott" in the St. Matthew Passion (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_tXqQlFdcQ), Bach set "Erbarm dich mein, o Herre Gott" as an early Miscellaneous chorale, BWV 721 in f-sharp minor (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpEX4YF_NFU), authenticity questioned, says Peter Williams (https://www.classicalarchives.com/work/812141.html), and a plain chorale, BWV 305 in e minor (http://www.bach-chorales.com/BWV0305.htm, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhPC2G8_9eM). The Neumeister Collection includes a setting of Friedrich Wilhelm Zachow (Thomas 58), No. 76, eschatological hymn (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImFeJrkFqC8, LV 18).
A chorale prelude setting (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVPkWfvPJg4) of Heinrich Bach (1615-1692), father of Johann Michael Bach, may be the work of Johann Heinrich Buttstett, says Karl Geiringer. Johann Christoph Bach (1642-1703), Michael's older brother, composed a set of 44 chorale preludes, including "Erbarm dich mein, o Herre Gott," http://imslp.org/wiki/44_Choräle_zum_Präambulieren_(Bach,_Johann_Christoph). It is known in English as "Show pity, O Lord, Forgive (https://hymnary.org/text/show_pity_lord_o_lord_forgive_is_not).
Two Bach colleagues set the chorale "Erbarm dich mein o Herre Gott": Georg Philipp Telemann in the Missa sopra (Kyrie-Gloria), "Missa Erbarm dich mein o Herre Gott," TWV 9:6, and Christoph Graupner, "Erbarm dich mein o Herre Gott," GWV 1163/24, for the 22nd Sunday after Trinity 1724. G.P. Telemann composed Reminiscere Cantata "Der Reichtum macht allein beglückt," TWV 1:313 (Harmonischer Gottes-Dienst, Hamburg 1726). while C. Graupner composed numerous cantatas for Reminiscere (1712-44, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cantatas_by_Christoph_Graupner#GWV_1121. Also, Gottfried Heinrich Stölzel composed Reminiscere Cantatas "Er wird sitzen und schmelzen, und das Silber reinigen" (1713), and "Ich danke dir Herr dass du zornig bist gewesen (1738). The former was part of the "String Cycle," which J.S. Bach presented in 1735-36 and may have been performed on 26 February 1736, possibly in the progressive University Pauliner Kirche or at the New Church.
Source: 2nd Sunday in Lent, Michael Bach Cantata, Readings, Chorales (William Hoffman, March 2, 2018)

Vocal Works by J.S. Bach:

Chorale Erbarm dich mein, o Herre Gott, BWV 305
Ref: RE 34; Br 33; KE 78; Birnstiel 37; Levy–Mendelssohn 60; Fasch p.142; BGA 52; BC F55.1; CST 81

German Text (verses in bold print set by Bach)

English Translation

1. Erbarm' Dich mein o Herre Gott!
nach Deiner groß'n Barmherzigkeit,
wasch' ab mach' rein mein' Missethat,
ich kenn' mein' Sünd' und ist mir leid;
allein ich Dir gesündigt hab',
das ist wider mich stetiglich;
das Bös' vor Dir mag nicht bestahn,
Du bleibst gerecht, ob Du urtheilest mich.

1. O God, be mercyfull to me,
Accordynge to Thy great pitie;
Washe of, make clene my iniquite:
I knowlege my synne, and it greveth me
Agaynst The, agaynst The only
Have Isynned, which is before myne eye:
Though Thou be judged in man’s syght,
Yet are Thy wordes founde true and ryght.

2. Sieh, Herr, in Sünd' bin ich gebor'n,
in Sünd' empfing mich mein' Mutter;
die Wahrheit liebst, thust offenbarn
Deiner weisheit heimlich' Güter.
Bespreng mich Herr! mit Yfopo;
rein werd' ich, so Du wäschest mich,
weißer den Schnee; mein Gehör wird
froh, all' mein Gebein' wird freuen sich.

2. Beholde, I was all borne in synne,
My mother conceaved me therin:
But Thou lovest treuth, and haste shewed me
Thy wysdome hyd so secretly.
With fayre ysope, Lorde, sprenkle Thou me;
Washe Thou me clean; so shall I be
Whyter than snowe: cause me reioyse,
Make my bones mery, whom Thou madest lowse.

3. Herr! sich nicht an die Sünde mein,
thu' ab all' Ungerechtigkeit,
und mach' in mir das herze rein,
ein'n neuen Geist in mir bereit'.
Verwirf mich nicht von Dein'm Angesicht,
Dein'n heil'gen Geist wend' nicht von mir:
die Freud' Dein's Heils, Herr, zu mir richt,
der willig' Geist enthalt mich Dir.

3. Lorde, turne Thy face from my wickednesse;
Clense me from all unryghteousnesse:
A pure harte, Lorde, make Thou in me,
Renewe a ryght spirite in my body:
Cast me not out away from The,
Nor take Thy Holy Goost from me;
Make me reioyse in Thy savynge health,
Thy myghty Spirite strength me for my wealth.

4. Die Gottlos'n will ich Deine Weg',
die Sünder auch dazu lehren,
daß sie vom bösen falschen Steg;
zu Dir durch Dich sich bekehren.
Beschirm' mich, Herr, mein's Heils ein Gott,
vor dem Urtheil durch's Blut bedeut't.
Mein' Zung' verkünd't Dein recht's Gebot;
schaff, daß mein Mund Dein Lob ausbreit'.

4. Thy waye shall I shewe to men full of vyce,
And enstructe them well in Thy service;
That wicked men and ungodly
May be converted unto The.
O God, O God, my Savioure,
Delyver me from the synne of murther:
My tonge shall reioyse in Thy mercye;
Open my lippes, and my mouth shal prayse The.

5. Kein leiblich Opfer von mir heisch'st,
ich hätt' Dir das auch gegeben;
so nimm nun den zerknirschten Geist,
betrübt's und traurig's Herz daneben;
verschmäh nicht, Gott, das Opfer mein,
thu' wohl in Deiner Gütigkeit
dem Berg Zion, da Christen sein,
die opfern Dir Gerechtigkeit.

5. Thou wylt have no bodely offrynge;
I thought them els to The to brynge.
God’s sacrifice is a troubled spirite;
Thou wylt not dispise a harte contrite.
With Sion, O God, deale gently,
That Hierusalem walles may buylded be:
Then shalt Thou delyte in the ryght offrynge,
Which men shall with theyr calves brynge.

Source of German Text: Bach Digital | Hymnary.org | Monarchieliga
English Translation: Bishop Myles Coverdale | Source of English Translation: Source: Charles Sanford Terry: Johann Sebastian Bach, Bach’s Chorals, vol. 3 The Hymns and Hymn Melodies of the Organ Works (1921), pp 143-145
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (September 2018)