Ein Lämmlein geht und trägt die Schuld

Ein Lämmlein geht und trägt die Schuld. Paul Gerhardt* (1607-1676). Originally ‘Ein Lammeln...’, this was published in Johann Crüger’s Praxis Pietatis Melica (1648), in ten 10-line stanzas. It is a most beautiful meditation on the Passion of Christ, based on John 1: 29 (‘Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world’) and on Isaiah 53: 1-7. It is a hymn which narrates the events of the Passion and gives thanks for Christ as ‘der große Freund/ und Heiland meiner Seelen’ (‘great friend, and Saviour of my soul’, verse 2). The exclamations of wonder and praise are beautifully placed, as in ‘O Wunderlieb, o Liebesmacht’ in verse 3 (‘O wonder of love, O strength of love’), just...