A Wedding Speech, to Honor and Wish a Happy Lot to the Honorable and Dependable Young Man Jacob Pommern and his Honorable and Virtuous Bride, the Maiden Barbara Löffelholtz. Written by Anna Keller, Widow of the Late Blessed Doctor Hans Jacob Wecker. Printed in Nuremberg by Nicholas Knorr.

In the beginning when God finished creating the world

And recognized all things as good

After he had determined to do it in His Wisdom

He made it very good through His Word

Then he also made the man

Made him beautiful to see from a lump of dirt

He created him in His image

He breathed the breath of life into him

And from this made him into a living soul

And afterward God was pleased by this

Since he was well made by God

God brought him into the garden

Which Hehad also prepared well

With everything that would serve a person’s needs

It should all grow and increase

So that the man could feed himself from it

He also created livestock large and small

And the birds and fish just as unblemished

All of which the man should rule

For this reason God Himself brought them to him

He should also eat all the fruit

Only not from the tree of life

Through which good and evil can be known

Otherwise they would die, death at hand

To each he gave its name

But he did not find his family there

Each kind of creature found its mate

But his equal had not yet been created

Then God said, it will not be good

For man to be alone

We wish to make him a helper

Who will stand next to him in his tasks

Then God let fall upon the man

A deep sleep, and took an entire

Rib from his chest

And from it made the woman

Filled the gap with flesh

Brought the wife to him, as he had wished

With her he should increase the world[‘s population]

And in this also honor his creator

Also they should live eternally

They were created immortal

He said this is bone of bone

A helper who will be next to me

Woman will be her name

Since she was taken from man

For this reason man will forsake

Father and Mother, as is right

And cleave to his wife

They will be two souls in one flesh

In this way was the first marriage union made

Woe to the one who scorns it

God wishes for the world to increase in this way

And His order shall not be upended.

Thus we also have today

Two such young spouses

Rich in honor and good name

From the good lineage of their parents

How now reach out their hands to marriage,

To that praiseworthy, blessed state

Which God alone instituted

May He preserve them that they, unharmed,

Might thus enter into it

And be well pleasing to their creator

That they also might grow His kingdom

Inherit it along with His Son Christ

May God grant them fruit of their womb

For which reason He created them man and woman

May He preserve them, unblemished,

As they live purely/ taking up their cross

And bless them like Abraham

May their name also be great in the faith

To the praise of the Lord Jesus Christ

Through whom marriage is sanctified

Equated to Christ Himself and the Church

He calls her his Spouse and Heaven

Will be His reward for her

So long as she continues to fear Him

Because He now holds a joyous feast for her

And to it come young and old

And so Christ invites us too

If you wish not to lack for anything

Read David’s Psalms well

Which a God-fearing person may savor

It shows the spring of wisdom

How useful and fruitful fear of God is for the pious

And also what the rogues carry with them

Those who hunt for all manner of gratification

Paul gives us a good teaching

That every person should honor marriage

The man should hold his wife dear

Should watch over her like his own soul

No one has hated his own flesh

Thus he says that he should strive lovingly for marriage

Live with her in modesty

Look after her as the weaker one

No abuse/ mistreating her with bluster

She is a rib from his chest

Taken from beside and underneath your heart

God gave her to you without all the pain

Therefore do not scorn His gift

Especially when she is a praiseworthy wife

Love covers many things

Love makes many distasteful things good

When she is inadequate

Punish her with calm and quiet gentleness

In marriage not everything will be sweet

The Cross always accompanies you

Carry it behind the Lord with patience

Ponder that your sin has truly inculpated you

Lay down your life for your wife and children

So that her honour is not harmed

A wife should find comfort and help in her husband

So that she has no grounds to sin

He should handle his servants in a Christian manner too

Not treat them like a tyrant

Not hit and cuss at them like a pagan

Always diligently search God’s word

Also raise his children right

So that he is not disgraced by them

Always give a good example

How his wife, children, and servants should live

The man shall earn the bread

Create a reserve for his old age

So that when he is gone from his wife and children

They find their nourishment without him

And that with God and with thrift

They will not need to rely on their neighbor

The wife shall also live in the fear of God

Not oppose her husband with might

So long as he does not separate her from God

She should diligently hold him in honor

Pay attention to his intentions

Should any of them not be good

Let her seek the opportunity

To turn it around with modesty

She should be gentle toward him

Think of him as your lord

God has placed the load on your back

To bow your head before your husband

We should learn along with Sarah

She called Abraham her lord

They have all become her daughters

Who were found in the faith like her

If he does not do all he ought

Let her still be well pleased with him

Find no bitterness in her heart

Love binds up the pain and hurt

She should not need power against him

Keep to your tasks with friendliness

A Christian wife also trains her husband

If she does it bravely, with God’s help

A sensible and considerate wife

Is her husband’s honor/ holds his heart

She is not disposed toward pride

Paul gives good advice

As to what the wife’s adornment should be

So that she might look beautiful

Not adorned with braids and gold

But thereafter he writes what is fitting

Discipline/ modesty fits a wife well

Clothed in good works

A foolish/ contentious/ quarrelsome wife

Stirs up much hate and great Eib[1]

Misery and murder/ and brings the soul to ruin

Like the godless Jezebel

A wife should make peace

Not stir up the husband to anger

See how Abigail carried herself

As Nabal behaved in such an ugly way

When David desired provisions from him

And Nabal did not hear his voice

She did not speak more harshly

Or ask “why should we do this?”

Rather as soon as the situation occurred

She did not take long to think

Nor ask her husband about it

For she had seen his ignorance

Quickly and nimbly she set out

Packed her donkey, sat on it herself

She had well prepared meat, bread, and drink

Journeyed to him with discipline and honour

Allayed the king’s anger and rage

So that Nabal was not killed by him

Along with innocent blood

This she prevented with her meekness

Thus we read about Judith

Her virtue and honor saved her land and her people

Also many Christian women have won

Their husbands, who have come to the faith

Lemuel’s mother teaches the same

What the characteristics of a pious wife are

Read well, seek after her teaching

In this way you will have a good reputation and honor

She will raise her children in the fear of God

So that they flee disgrace and vice

The wife will be saved through childbearing

If she remains pure in the faith

A pious wife is a good portion

He whom God grants one will benefit

She gladdens the man in times of need

When she conducts herself with wisdom

The one for whom God has provided such a wife

Is honoured by God and men

In the same way we now have such a woman

Who, we are confident

Will honour God in her new state

Further His kingdom and help to increase it

Since she was raised well

For which reasons everyone praises her

You both have a good example

Of how a good Christian marriage should be

Only reach after the fear of God

In this way you will also have His blessing

Seek God’s praise in all things

In this way you will succeed everywhere

Also love His word at all times

So others can see whose children you are

Keep His commandments at all times before your eyes

Put your faith in no other prayer

Ponder that you are mortal

And that everything here comes to an end

As to beauty/ honor/ goods and money

You lack for nothing in this world

But this does not lead to heaven

The Lord Jesus teaches something else

That we should love nothing more

Than Him/ if we wish to enter His kingdom

He grants you riches

So long as you seek the eternal good

For whoever loves anything more than Him

Will not belong to Him

With this I wish you joy and good fortune

That you be granted God’s Spirit

When you reach the end of your journey

And give up your life to God

That He lead you into the state

That served as the origin of marriage

To Christ in Paradise

Singing praise to God with the angels

A joy that lasts forever

Amen, for the one who desires it from the heart

Further reading

Albrecht Classen, „Eine weibliche Stimme im poetischen Ehediskurs – Anna Keller“. In: id., Der Liebes- und Ehediskurs vom hohen Mittelalter bis zum frühen 17. Jahrhundert. Waxmann, Münster 2005, pp. 294–300.

https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/en/2022/04/switzerlands-first-cookbook-author/