[2] The closing chorale is the seventh stanza of Martin Moller's hymn "Nimm von uns, Herr, du treuer Gott" (1584),[3] sung to the melody of "Vater unser im Himmelreich".

[2] The cantata in five movements is scored for three vocal soloists—alto, tenor and bass—a four-part choir only in the closing chorale, trumpet, two violins, viola, and basso continuo.

[5] John Eliot Gardiner, who calls the cantata "magnificently theatrical and terse", notes: "Bach seems, in fact, to be taking on his entire generation of Italian opera composers and beating them at their own game.

The unflagging energy of his melodic invention and rhythmic propulsion is always directed towards giving truthful expression to the text, and here it is as matchless as it is exciting".

[7] The second aria, "So löschet im Eifer der rächende Richter" (Extinguish with haste will the judge in his vengeance) is sung by the bass, with "added emphasis by the presence of the trumpet.