A dread hath come on me

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A dread hath come on me

Author: Simon Dach (1640); Translator: Catherine Winkworth (1863)
Tune: ANGST
Published in 2 hymnals

Printable scores: PDF, MusicXML
Audio files: MIDI

Representative Text

A dread hath come on me,
I know not where to flee,
My pow'rs can nought avail me;
My trembling limbs grow weak,
My lips refuse to speak,
My heart and senses fail me:

For thinking on that sound
That once shall pierce the ground
And make its slumb'rers tremble,--
"Arise! the Day of Doom
Is come at last,--is come!
Before the judge assemble!

Ah God! no tempest's shock
That cleaves the solid rock
Could make my spirit shiver
As doth that awful tone;
Were my heart steel or stone
'T would hear that voice and quiver.

I eat, or wake, or sleep,
I talk, or smile, or weep,
Yet still that voice of thunder
Is sounding through my heart,--
"Forget not what thou art,
The doom thou liest under!

For daily do I see
How many deaths there be,
How swiftly all things wither;
How sickness fills the grave,
Or fire, or sword, or wave
Is sweeping thousands thither.

My turn will soon be here,
The end is drawing near,
I hear its warning plainly;
Death knocketh at my door
And tells me all is o'er,
And I would fly him vainly.

Ah! who in this my strait
Will be mine Advocate?
Will all things leave me friendless?
My wealth and power are dust,
This Judge is ever just,
His righteous doom is endless.

Lord Jesus Christ! 't is Thou
Alone canst help me now,
But 't was for this Thou camest,
To save us in this hour;--
Then show Thy mercy's power,
For they are safe Thou claimest.

Speak Thou for me! Thou art
The refuge of my heart;
With gladness let me hear Thee;
Bid me to Thee ascend,
Where praise shall never end,
And love shall aye be near Thee.

Source: Chorale Book for England, The #28

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Author: Simon Dach

Dach, Simon, son of Simon Dach, interpreter to the Court of Justice at Memel, Prussia, was born at Memel, July 29,1605. He attended the Cathedral school at Königsberg, the Town school at Wittenberg, and the Gymnasium at Magdeburg. In 1626 he returned to Königsberg, where, after studying philosophy and theology at the University, he for some time acted as a private tutor. In 1633 he was appointed assistant in the Cathedral school, and in 1636 Conrector. He then, in 1639, became Professor of Poetry in the University, was five times Dean of the Philosophical Faculty, and in 1656-57 Rector of the University. He died at Königsberg, April 15, 1659 (Koch , iii. 182-191; Allg. Deutsche Biog. , iv. 685-688, &c). Dach was much of an invalid, and… Go to person page >

Translator: Catherine Winkworth

Catherine Winkworth (b. Holborn, London, England, 1827; d. Monnetier, Savoy, France, 1878) is well known for her English translations of German hymns; her translations were polished and yet remained close to the original. Educated initially by her mother, she lived with relatives in Dresden, Germany, in 1845, where she acquired her knowledge of German and interest in German hymnody. After residing near Manchester until 1862, she moved to Clifton, near Bristol. A pioneer in promoting women's rights, Winkworth put much of her energy into the encouragement of higher education for women. She translated a large number of German hymn texts from hymnals owned by a friend, Baron Bunsen. Though often altered, these translations continue to be used i… Go to person page >

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Text Information

Text Information

First Line:	A dread hath come on me
German Title:	Ich steh' in Angst und Pein
Author:	Simon Dach (1640)
Translator:	Catherine Winkworth (1863)
Language:	English