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Cantata BWV 117
Sei Lob und Ehr dem höchsten Gut
English Translation in Interlinear Format
Cantata BWV 117 - Praise and honour to the highest good

Event: Chorale Cantata for unspecified occasion
Text: Johann Jakob Schütz
Chorale Text: Sei Lob und Ehr dem höchsten Gut

Biblical quotations in green font, chorales in purple

1

Chorus [S, A, T, B]

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

Sei Lob und Ehr dem höchsten Gut,
Let there be praise and honour for the highest good,
Dem Vater aller Güte,
for the father of all goodness,
Dem Gott, der alle Wunder tut,
for that God , who does all wonders,
Dem Gott, der mein Gemüte
for that God who fills my spirit
Mit seinem reichen Trost erfüllt,
with his rich consolation,
Dem Gott, der allen Jammer stillt.
for God, who eases all misery.
Gebt unserm Gott die Ehre!
Give honour to our God!

2

Recitativo [Bass]

Continuo

Es danken dir die Himmelsheer,
The heavenly host give thanks to you
O Herrscher aller Thronen,
O ruler of all thrones,
Und die auf Erden, Luft und Meer
and those who on earth, air and sea
In deinem Schatten wohnen,
dwell in your shadow,
Die preisen deine Schöpfermacht,
these praise your creative power
Die alles also wohl bedacht.
that has so well taken thought for everything.
Gebt unserm Gott die Ehre!
Give honour to our God!

3

Aria [Tenor]

Oboe d'amore I/II, Continuo

Was unser Gott geschaffen hat,
What our God has created
Das will er auch erhalten;
he wants also to preserve;
Darüber will er früh und spat
over it early and late he wants
Mit seiner Gnade walten.
to rule with his grace.
In seinem ganzen Königreich
In his whole kingdom
Ist alles recht und alles gleich.
all is just and equal.
Gebt unserm Gott die Ehre!
Give honour to our God!

4

Chorale [S, A, T, B]

[Instrumentation not indicated]

Ich rief dem Herrn in meiner Not:
I called to the Lord in my distress:
Ach Gott, vernimm mein Schreien!
Ah God, hear my crying out!
Da half mein Helfer mir vom Tod
Then my helper helped me in the face of death
Und ließ mir Trost gedeihen.
and allowed my comfort to flourish.
Drum dank, ach Gott, drum dank ich dir;
For this reason thanks, ah God, for this reason thanks I give to you
Ach danket, danket Gott mit mir!
Ah, give thanks, give thanks to God with me!
Gebt unserm Gott die Ehre!
Give honour to our God!

5

Recitative [Alto]

Violino I/II, Viola, Continuo

Der Herr ist noch und nimmer nicht
The Lord is not and never has been
Von seinem Volk geschieden,
separated from his people.
Er bleibet ihre Zuversicht,
He remains their confidence,
Ihr Segen, Heil und Frieden;
their blessing, salvation and peace;
Mit Mutterhänden leitet er
with the hands of a mother he guides
Die Seinen stetig hin und her.
his people continually here and there.
Gebt unserm Gott die Ehre
Give honour to our God!

6

Aria [Bass]

Violino solo, Continuo

Wenn Trost und Hülf ermangeln muß,
When comfort and help must fail us,
Die alle Welt erzeiget,
as all the world shows,
So kommt, so hilft der Überfluß,
then he comes, then he who is abundance gives help,
Der Schöpfer selbst, und neiget
the creator himself, and looks down
Die Vateraugen denen zu,
with a father's eyes on those
Die sonsten nirgend finden Ruh.
who nowhere else find inner peace.
Gebt unserm Gott die Ehre!
Give honour to our God!

7

Aria [Alto]

Flauto traverso I, Violino I/II, Viola, Continuo

Ich will dich all mein Leben lang,
All my life long I want,
O Gott, von nun an ehren;
O God, from now on to honour you.
Man soll, o Gott, den Lobgesang
The song of your praise, O God,
An allen Orten hören.
should be heard everywhere.
Mein ganzes Herz ermuntre sich,
Let my whole heart be stirred,
Mein Geist und Leib erfreue sich.
let my spirit and body rejoice.
Gebt unserm Gott die Ehre!
Give honour to our God!

8

Recitative [Tenor]

Continuo

Ihr, die ihr Christi Namen nennt,
You, who call on the name of Christ,
Gebt unserm Gott die Ehre!
Give honour to our God!
Ihr, die ihr Gottes Macht bekennt,
You who recognise the might of your God,
Gebt unserm Gott die Ehre!
Give honour to our God!
Die falschen Götzen macht zu Spott,
Hold up to ridicule the false idols,
Der Herr ist Gott, der Herr ist Gott:
the Lord is God, the Lord is God :
Gebt unserm Gott die Ehre!
Give honour to our God!

9

Chorale [S, A, T, B]

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

So kommet vor sein Angesicht
Therefore come before his face
Mit jauchzenvollem Springen;
with dancing full of exultation;
Bezahlet die gelobte Pflicht;
Fulfil the duty you have sworn,
Und laßt uns fröhlich singen:
and let us joyfully sing:
Gott hat es alles wohl bedacht
God has considered everything well
Und alles, alles recht gemacht.
and everything, everything, he has done rightly.
Gebt unserm Gott die Ehre!
Give honour to our God!

--

This Translation in Parallel Format

English Translation by Francis Browne (June 2002)
Contributed by Francis Browne (June 2002)

Cantata BWV 117: Sei Lob und Ehr dem höchsten Gut for the birthday of Christian von Weißenfels (1731)
Discography: Details & Complete Recordings | Recordings of Individual Movements
Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

BWV 117 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 | Dutch-1 | Dutch-0 | Dutch-3 | French-4 | French-5 | French-6 | Hebrew-1 | Hungarian-1 | Indonesian-1 | Italian-2 | Norwegian-1 | Polish-1 | Russian-1 | Russian-3 | Spanish-5 | Spanish-7 | Spanish/English-8
Chorale Text: Sei Lob und Ehr dem höchsten Gut [BWV 117/1-9]

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 14:22