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Cantata BWV 12
Weinen, Klagen, Sorgen, Zagen

English Translation in Parallel Format

Cantata BWV 12 -Weeping, lamenting, worry, apprehension

(Biblical quotations are in green font, chorale quotations in purple font)

1. Sinfonia Oboe, Violino I/II, Viola I/II, Continuo e Fagotto

   

2. Chorus Violino I/II, Viola I/II, Continuo e Fagotto

Weinen, Klagen,,
Sorgen, Zagen,
,
Angst und Not
Sind der Christen Tränenbrot,
Die das Zeichen Jesu tragen

Weeping, lamentation,
worry, apprehension,
anxiety and distress
are the bread of tears of Christian
who bear the mark of Jesus

   

3. Recitative Alto Violino I/II, Viola I/II, Continuo e Fagotto

Wir müssen durch viel Trübsal in das Reich Gottes eingehen. (Acts 14:22)

We must enter through much tribulation into God's kingdom.

4. Aria Alto Oboe, Continuo

Kreuz und Krone sind verbunden,
Kampf und Kleinod sind vereint.
Christen haben alle Stunden
Ihre Qual und ihren Feind,
Doch ihr Trost sind Christi Wunden.

Cross and crown are joined together,
struggle and treasure are united.
Christians have at all hours
their anguish and their enemy,
but Christ's wounds are their consolation.

 

5. Aria Bass Violino I/II, Continuo

Ich folge Christo nach,
Von ihm will ich nicht lassen
Im Wohl und Ungemach,
Im Leben und Erblassen.
Ich küsse Christi Schmach,
,
Ich will sein Kreuz umfassen.
Ich folge Christo nach,
,
Von ihm will ich nicht lassen.

I follow after Christ,
I do not want to leave him
in prosperity and adversity
in living and dying
I kiss Christ's shame,
I want to embrace his cross.
I follow after Christ,
I do not want to leave him.

 

6. Aria Tenor Tromba, Continuo

Sei getreu, alle Pein
Wird doch nur ein Kleines sein.
.
Nach dem Regen
Blüht der Segen,

Alles Wetter geht vorbei.
Sei getreu, sei getreu!

Be faithful, all pain
will then be only a little thing.
After the rain
blessing blossoms,
all bad weather passes by.
Be faithful, be faithful

 

7. Chorale

Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan
Dabei will ich verbleiben,
Es mag mich auf die rauhe Bahn
Not, Tod und Elend treiben,
,
So wird Gott mich
Ganz väterlich
In seinen Armen halten:
Drum laß ich ihn nur walten.

What God does that is done well.
I shall stay with this.
It may be that on the rough road
I shall be driven by distress, death and misery,
yet God will
just like a father
hold me in his arms:
therefore I let only him rule over me.

--

 

English Translation by Francis Browne (March 2002, revised February 2005)

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