Straf mich nicht in deinem Zorn (Krebs und Krebsumkehr im Bass)

Here retrograde (backwards) and retrograde inversion (backwards and upside down) statements of the chorale tune are hidden in the bass which accompanies each entrance of the chorale melody. If the harmonic progression sounds strange and the counterpoint between the bass and soprano seems unorthodox at times, this is the reason. In German the retrograde is called "Krebs" which is the same word for "cancer" (both the disease and the sign of the zodiac, it's also "crab" which is why a backwards canon is called a "crab canon" in English). In the first phrase, the Krebs version of the melody is used in the bass to symbolize the "cancer"-like disease of sin which destroys the heart and angers God. Then the remaining phrases use "Krebsumkehr" to represent reversing one's path away from sin to return to God. The meter is in 5 (the number of mankind) to place the focus on the sinner's journey.

(composed 16. December 2018)

Straf mich nicht in deinem Zorn,
großer Gott verschone;
ach! laß mich nicht sein verlor'n,
nach Verdienst nicht lohne!
hat die Sünd'
Dich entzünd't,
lösch' ab in dem Lamme
Deines Grimmes Flamme.

My attempted translation:

Punish me not in Thy wrath,
God Almighty, spare me;
Oh, do not let me become lost,
do not judge me by my merit!
Though my sins
have inflamed Thee,
let the Lamb quell
Thy terrible passion.