130: Wol dem, der den Herren scheuet.

Wol dem, der den Herren scheuet.--(Goed. 130.)

Appeared in Crü.--Runge, 1653, no. 243.

The CXIIth Psalm of David celebrating the prosperity of the godly is the basis for Gerhardt's beautiful hymn which has found great popularity in German hymn-books. The translation by J. Kelly, 1867, p. 132, is the only English version published. While Gerhardt follows quite closely the poetic language of the Bible, the translator departs often from what might be expected as the normal English equivalent of Gerhardt's diction. In the following stanzas the translation brings out excellently Gerhardt's simile and metaphor.

Cf. also lines 1 and 2 of stanza 2: