This cantata is scored for two sopranos, two violins, violone or bassoon, and continuo. The text to this cantata comes from the Johann Franck chorale from 1653. Buxtehude uses the text of all six verses of the chorale. The first, fourth, and sixth verses of the chorale retain the chorale melody and are also scored for the all three of the voices as well as the strings. Rather than having the strings double the voices, they play independently, creating richer harmonies and textures. Verses two, three, and five are each sung by a different soloist. Though they sing the text of the chorale, their melodic material is not necessarily related to the chorale melody. Each verse of the cantata is separated by an instrumental ritornello. The ritornello is much the same between each verse, but Buxtehude alters and varies the ritornello by casting it in different meters and altering some of the melodic material accordingly. The cantata is also preceded by an instrumental "sonata" that is a bit longer than the typical bit of instrumental music that functions as a prelude to Buxtehude's cantatas.

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