Schauet doch und sehet, ob irgend ein Schmerz sei (Behold and see, if there be any sorrow),[1] BWV 46, is a church cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach.

The closing chorale, a stanza from Johann Matthäus Meyfart's hymn "O großer Gott von Macht", is a prayer culminating in the thought "do not repay us according to our sins".

[5] The cantata is structured in six movements and scored for three vocal soloists (alto (A), tenor (T) and bass (B)), a four-part choir (SATB), and a Baroque instrumental ensemble of a slide trumpet (Zugtrompete, Tr), mostly doubling the choir soprano, two recorders (Fl), two oboes da caccia (Oc), two violins (Vl), viola (Va) and basso continuo (Bc).

[5] The title on the original parts reads: "10 post Trinit: / Schauet doch und sehet, ob irgend ein etc.

The first movement, "Schauet doch und sehet, ob irgend ein Schmerz sei" (Behold and see, if there be any sorrow),[1] in two sections is a lamento of large proportions.

[3] The musicologist Julian Mincham notes about Bach's different ways to convey the distress of the text: "There is frequent stressing of the word "Schmerz" (sorrow).

[3] The fugue, marked "Un poco allegro", covers the second part of the verse, translating to "For the Lord has made me full of anguish on the day of his wrathful anger.

[3] A tenor recitative, "So klage du, zerstörte Gottesstadt" (Lament then, O destroyed city of God),[1] is accompanied by the recorders and the strings.

[3] Mincham notes that Bach "experiments with instrumentation in a way that lends colour and expressive depth", adding that "it is equally likely that these iridescent twinkles are symbolic; flickering feelings of uncertainty within a demolished world".

[4] The first aria, sung by the bass, "Dein Wetter zog sich auf von weiten" (Your storm arose from far off),[1] depicts dramatically the outbreak of a thunderstorm.

[7] Mincham notes about the double image: "The bass aria is, indeed, a graphic musical portrait of a thundering storm as well as an allegorical portrayal of God′s anger and fury".

[3] The alto renders in a secco recitative: "'Doch bildet euch, o Sünder, ja nicht ein" (Yet do not imagine, o sinners).

O großer Gott von Treu, Weil vor dir niemand gilt Als dein Sohn Jesus Christ, Der deinen Zorn gestillt, So sieh doch an die Wunden sein, Sein Marter, Angst und schwere Pein; Um seinetwillen schone, Uns nicht nach Sünden lohne.

O great God of faithfulness, since before you no one is worthy other than Your Son, Jesus Christ, Who calms Your anger, so look upon His wounds, His martyrdom, anguish, and heavy pain; and spare us, for his sake; do not repay us according to our sins.