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Cantata BWV 119
Preise, Jerusalem, den Herrn
English Translation in Parellel Format
Cantata BWV 119 - Praise, Jerusalem, the Lord |
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Event: Rastwahl Cantata for the Inauguration of Leipzig Town Council [St. Bartolomew’s Day]
Text: Psalm 147: 12-14 (Mvt. 1); Martin Luther (Mvt. 9); Anon (Mvts. 2-8) (probably Picander or Christian Weiss, Sr.)
Chorale Text: Herr Gott, dich loben wir [The German Tedeum] |
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Biblical quotations in green font , chorales in purple |
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Original German Text |
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English Translation |
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Coro |
1 |
Chorus [S, A, T, B] |
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Tromba I-IV, Timpani, Flauto I/II, Oboe I-III, Violino I/II, Viola, Continuo |
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Preise, Jerusalem, den Herrn,
lobe, Zion, deinen Gott!
Denn er machet fest die Riegel deiner Tore
und segnet deine Kinder drinnen,
er schadet deinen Grenzen Frieden. |
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Praise, Jerusalem, the Lord,
glorify, Zion, your God!
For he makes firm the bars of your gates
and blesses your children within,
he creates peace within your borders. |
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2 |
Recitativo T |
2 |
Recitative [Tenor] |
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Continuo |
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Gesegnet Land, glückselge Stadt,
Woselbst der Herr sein Herd und Feuer hat!
Wie kann Gott besser lohnen,
Als wo er Ehre lässt in einem Lande wohnen?
Wie kann er eine Stadt
Mit reicherm Nachdruck segnen,
Als wo er Güt und Treu einander lässt begegnen,
Wo er Gerechtigkeit und Friede
Zu küssen niemals müde,
Nicht müde, niemals satt
Zu werden teur verheißen, auch in der Tat erfüllet hat?
Da ist der Schluss gemacht: Gesegnet Land, glückselge Stadt! |
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Blessed land, fortunate city,
where the Lord himself has his hearth and fire!
How can God give a better reward
than where he lets honour dwell within a land?
How can a city
be more emphatically blessed by him
than where he makes goodness and faith to meet together,
where he makes justice and peace
never weary of kissing,
where he is not weary , never satisfied
with promising to be kind, but also has accomplished his promise in deeds?
Therefore we make this conclusion : Blessed land, fortunate city! |
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3 |
Aria T |
3 |
Aria [Tenor] |
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Oboe da caccia I/II, Continuo |
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Wohl dir, du Volk der Linden,
Wohl dir, du hast es gut!
Wieviel an Gottes Segen
Und seiner Huld gelegen,
Die überschwenglich tut,
Kannst du an dir befinden. |
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Happy are you, you people [of the city] of the linden trees
happy are you, all is well with you!
How much of God's blessing
and his favour
which he bestows in profusion
can you find within you. |
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4 |
Recitativo B |
4 |
Recitative [Bass] |
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Tromba I-IV, Timpani, Flauto I/II, Oboe da caccia I/II, Continuo |
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So herrlich stehst du, liebe Stadt!
Du Volk, das Gott zum Erbteil sich erwählet hat!
Doch wohl! und aber wohl! wo man's zu Herzen fassen
Und recht erkennen will,
Durch wen der Herr den Segen wachsen lassen.
Ja!
Was bedarf es viel?
Das Zeugnis ist schon da,
Herz und Gewissen wird uns überzeugen,
Dass, was wir Gutes bei uns sehn,
Nächst Gott durch kluge Obrigkeit
Und durch ihr weises Regiment geschehn.
Drum sei, geliebtes Volk, zu treuem Dank bereit,
Sonst würden auch davon nicht deine Mauern schweigen! |
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How gloriously you stand, dear city!
You people , whom God has chosen for a share of his inheritance!
It is well, yes indeed it is well! where people take it to heart
and are willing to recognise rightly
through whom the Lord makes blessings increase.
Yes!
Does much need to be said?
The evidence is already there,
heart and conscience will convince us
that all the good we see among us
next to God happens through prudent authority
and through their wise government,
Therefore, beloved people, be ready to give faithful thanks,
Otherwise about this your walls will not be silent! |
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5 |
Aria A |
5 |
Aria [Alto] |
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Flauto I/II all' unisono, Continuo |
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Die Obrigkeit ist Gottes Gabe,
Ja selber Gottes Ebenbild.
Wer ihre Macht nicht will ermessen,
Der muss auch Gottes gar vergessen:
Wie würde sonst sein Wort erfüllt? |
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Authority is a gift of God,
indeed the exact likeness of God himself.
Anyone who is unwilling to appreciate its power
is bound to forget God's power also:
how would his word otherwise be fulfilled? |
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6 |
Recitativo S |
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Recitative [Soprano] |
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Continuo |
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Nun! wir erkennen es und bringen dir,
O höchster Gott, ein Opfer unsers Danks dafür.
Zumal, nachdem der heutge Tag,
Der Tag, den uns der Herr gemacht,
Euch, teure Väter, teils von eurer Last entbunden,
Teils auch auf euch
Schlaflose Sorgenstunden
Bei einer neuen Wahl gebracht,
So seufzt ein treues Volk mit Herz und Mund zugleich: |
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Now! We acknowledge it and bring to you
o highest God, an offering of our thanks.
Especially , after today,
the day the Lord has made for us,
for you , dear fathers, - some of whom are released from your burden,
while some of you also
have been brought sleepless hours of care
through a new election, -
a loyal people with both heart and mouth sighs in this way: |
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Coro |
7 |
Chorus [S, A, T, B] |
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Tromba I-IV, Timpani, Flauto I/II, Oboe I-III, Violino I/II, Viola, Continuo |
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Der Herr hat Guts an uns getan,
Des sind wir alle fröhlich.
Er seh die teuren Väter an
Und halte auf unzählig
Und späte lange Jahre naus
In ihrem Regimente Haus,
So wollen wir ihn preisen. |
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The Lord has done good things for us,
and because of this we are joyful.
May he look upon our dear fathers
and for countless
and for long years to come
be present in their rule,
and so we shall praise him. |
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8 |
Recitativo A |
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Recitative [Alto] |
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Continuo |
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Continuo |
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Zuletzt!
Da du uns, Herr, zu deinem Volk gesetzt,
So lass von deinen Frommen
Nur noch ein arm Gebet vor deine Ohren kommen
Und höre! ja erhöre!
Der Mund, das Herz und Seele seufzet sehre. |
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At last!
Since you, Lord, have joined us to your people,
grant that from your pious people
only one more poor prayer may come before your ears
and hear! yes, hear us!
Mouth and heart and soul sigh greatly. |
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9 |
Choral |
9 |
Chorale [S, A, T, B] |
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Instrumentierung nicht überliefert |
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Hilf deinem Volk, Herr Jesu Christ,
Und segne, was dein Erbteil ist.
Wart und pfleg ihr zu aller Zeit
Und heb sie hoch in Ewigkeit!
Amen. |
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Help your people, Lord Jesus Christ,
and bless what is your inheritance.
Look after and care for them at all times
and raise them high in eternity!
Amen. |
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This Translation in Interlinear Format |
English Translation by Francis Browne (April 2003) |
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Contributed by Francis Browne (April 2003) |
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