The chorale Buxtehude sets in this prelude was sung on Confession Sunday and deals with the topic of repentance and forgiveness. The chorale tune is the same as Vater Unser im Himmelreich, but with a new text by Martin Moller from 1584. The text to the first verse reads as follows, "Take from us Lord, thou faithful God, the hard punishment and great suffering, that we have earned due to our uncountable sins. Protect us from war and difficult times, from famine, fire and great sorrow."

Buxtehude writes four versets on this chorale. The first is in three voices with the chorale melody mostly unadorned in the soprano. The second and the fourth versets are bicinia. The melody is in the soprano, with only one other voice making counterpoint. This is a fairly old-fashioned style chorale setting with its roots in the Sweelinck tradition. The third verset is more typical of Buxtehude, in a four-voice texture with the chorale tune heavily embellished in the soprano and three other voices making counterpoint. The fourth verset is another bicinium with the chorale melody unornamented in the soprano.

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