Mensch, wiltu leben seliglich

Mensch, wiltu leben seliglich. Martin Luther* (1483-1546).  This hymn is a short hymn on the Ten Commandments (‘Die zehen gebot auffs kürßte’, Wackernagel, Das Deutsche Kirchenlied, III. 17). It was first printed in Johann Walter*’s Geystliche gesangk Buchlein  (Wittenberg, 1524). Jenny (p. 329) notes it as ‘Die Zehen gepot kurtz’ at number 12 in Das Wittenberger Gemeindegesangbuch (1533). It had five stanzas, with ‘Kyrioleis’ after each stanza. In the title ‘kürßte’ was used to distinguish it from ‘Dies sind die heilgen zehn Gebot’*, the longer (‘lange’) version. It was translated by Miles Coverdale* as ‘Man, wylt thou lyve vertuously’ in Goostly psalmes and spirituall songes (ca...