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Cantata BWV 111
Was mein Gott will, das g'scheh allzeit
English Translation in Parallel Format
Cantata BWV 111 - What my God wants , may it always happen

Event: Chorale Cantata for the 3rd Sunday after Epiphany
Readings: Epistle: Romans 12: 17-21; Gospel: Matthew 8: 1-13
Text: Markgraf Albrecht von Brandenburg (Mvts. 1, 6); Anon (Mvts. 2-5)
Chorale Text: Was mein Gott will, das g'scheh allzeit

Biblical quotations in green font, chorales in purple

 

Original German Text

 

English Translation

1

Coro

1

Chorus [S, A, T, B]

 

Oboe I/II, Violino I/II, Viola, Continuo

   
 

Was mein Gott will, das g'scheh allzeit,
Sein Will, der ist der beste;
Zu helfen den'n er ist bereit,
Die an ihn gläuben feste.
Er hilft aus Not, der fromme Gott,
Und züchtiget mit Maßen:
Wer Gott vertraut, fest auf ihn baut,
Den will er nicht verlassen.

 

What my God wants , may it always happen,
his will is what is best.
He is ready to help those
who believe firmly in him.
He helps us in our poverty , the holy God,
and punishes us in moderation.
Who places his trust in God and builds firmly on him,
he will not abandon.

       

2

Aria B

2

Aria [Bass]

 

Continuo

   
 

Entsetze dich, mein Herze, nicht,
Gott ist dein Trost und Zuversicht
Und deiner Seele Leben.
Ja, was sein weiser Rat bedacht,
Dem kann die Welt und Menschenmacht
Unmöglich widerstreben.

 

Do not be terrified , my heart,
God is your consolation and confidence
and life of your soul.
Yes, what his wise counsel plans
is for the world and men's might
impossible to oppose.

       

3

Recitativo A

3

Recitative [Alto]

 

Continuo

   
 

O Törichter! der sich von Gott entzieht
Und wie ein Jonas dort
Vor Gottes Angesichte flieht;
Auch unser Denken ist ihm offenbar,
Und unsers Hauptes Haar
Hat er gezählet.
Wohl dem, der diesen Schutz erwählet
Im gläubigen Vertrauen,
Auf dessen Schluss und Wort
Mit Hoffnung und Geduld zu schauen.

 

O fool, who turns away from God
and like a Jonah there
flees from God's face;
even our thoughts are known to him
and the hair of our head
he has counted.
Happy is the person who has chosen this protection
in faithful trust,
and on his conclusion and word
looks with hope and patience.

       

4

Aria (Duetto) A T

4

Aria (Duet) [Alto, Tenor]

 

Violino I/II, Viola, Continuo

   
 

So geh ich mit beherzten Schritten,
Auch wenn mich Gott zum Grabe führt.
Gott hat die Tage aufgeschrieben,
So wird, wenn seine Hand mich rührt,
Des Todes Bitterkeit vertrieben.

 

Therefore I walk with emboldened steps
even when God leads me to the grave.
God has written down the days [of my life]
and so, when his hand touches me,
he will drive away the bitterness of death.

       

5

Recitativo S

5

Recitative [Soprano]

 

Oboe I/II, Continuo

   
 

Drum wenn der Tod zuletzt den Geist
Noch mit Gewalt aus seinem Körper reißt,
So nimm ihn, Gott, in treue Vaterhände!
Wenn Teufel, Tod und Sünde mich bekriegt
Und meine Sterbekissen
Ein Kampfplatz werden müssen,
So hilf, damit in dir mein Glaube siegt!
O seliges, gewünschtes Ende!

 

Therefore when death finally
tears with force the spirit from its body,
then take it, God, in your fatherly hands!
When the devil, death and sin make war on me
and my deathbed
must become a battleground,
then help, so that in you my faith may conquer!
O blessed longed for end!

       

6

Choral

6

Chorale [S, A, T, B]

 

Oboe I/II e Violino I col Soprano, Violino II coll'Alto, Viola col Tenore, Continuo

 

Noch eins, Herr, will ich bitten dich,
Du wirst mir's nicht versagen:
Wenn mich der böse Geist anficht,
Laß mich doch nicht verzagen.
Hilf, steur und wehr, ach Gott, mein Herr,
Zu Ehren deinem Namen.
Wer das begehrt, dem wird's gewährt;
Drauf sprech ich fröhlich: Amen.

 

Just one thing, Lord, I want to ask you,
you will not deny it to me:
when the evil spirit tempts me,
let me not despair.
Help, guide and protect, ah God, my Lord,
to the honour of your name.
Who desires this will have his wish granted;
for this reason I say joyfully: Amen.

       

This Translation in Interlinear Format

English Translation by Francis Browne (January 2003)

Contributed by Francis Browne (January 2003)

Cantata BWV 111: Was mein Gott will, das g'scheh allzeit for 3rd Sunday after Epiphany (1725)
Discography: Details & Complete Recordings | Recordings of Individual Movements
Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

BWV 111 Text: German-1 | German-6 | German-7 | NBA Text
Translations: English-1 | English-3I | English-3P | English-6 | English-10 | English-14
Catalan-1 | Chinese-2 | Danish-1 | Dutch-0 | Dutch-3 | Dutch-9 | French-4 | French-5 | French-6 | Hebrew-1 | Hungarian-1 | Indonesian-1 | Italian-2 | Norwegian-1 | Polish-1 | Portuguese-1 | Russian-1 | Russian-3 | Spanish-3 | Spanish-7 | Spanish/English-8
Chorale Text: Was mein Gott will, das g'scheh allzeit [BWV 111/1,~2-5,6]

English Translations in Interlinear/Parallel Format (English-3): Sorted by BWV Number | Sorted by Title | Sorted by Event | Note on English Translations


Texts & Translations: Main Page | Cantatas BWV 1-50 | Cantatas BWV 51-100 | Cantatas BWV 101-150 | Cantatas BWV 151-200 | Cantatas BWV 201-224 | Other Vocal BWV 225-249 | Chorales BWV 250-438 | Geistliche Lieder BWV 439-507 | AMN BWV 508-524 | Other Vocal 1081-1164 | BWV Anh | Chorale Texts | Emblemata | Sources | Poets & Composers
Discussions: Texts: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Translations: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4




 

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Last update: Monday, January 09, 2023 14:21