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Cantata BWV 120a
Herr Gott, Beherrscher aller Dinge
English Translation in Interlinear Format
Cantata BWV 120a - Lord God, ruler of all things

Event: Cantata for a Wedding [incomplete in its music, but complete in its text]
Text:

Biblical quotations in green font, chorales in purple

First Part (before the wedding)

1

Chorus

Tromba I-III, Tamburi, Oboe d'amore I e Violino I all' unisono, Oboe d'amore II e Violino II all' unisono, Viola, Continuo

Herr Gott, Beherrscher aller Dinge,
Lord God, ruler of all things,
Der alles hat, regiert und trägt,
who possesses, rules and bears everything,
Durch den, was Odem hat, sich regt,
through whom whatever has breath is moved,
Wir alle sind viel zu geringe
all of us are far too insignificant
Der Güte und Barmherzigkeit,
for the goodness and compassion,
Womit du uns von Kindesbeinen
with which from our earliest childhood
Bis auf den Augenblick erfreut.
up to the present moment you delight us.

2

Recitative [Bass, Tenor] and Chorus

Continuo - Violino I/II, Viola, Continuo

Bass:

Und von uns selbst nichts wissen,
and knew nothing of ourselves,
Ist deine Liebe und Barmherzigkeit
your love and compassion
Vor unser Wohlgedeihn
for our welfare
Aufs eifrigste beflissen;
were most keenly concerned;
Der Name und die Lebenszeit
our name and lifetime
Sind bei dir angeschrieben,
were written down by you,
Wenn wir noch im Verborgnen blieben;
when we still remained hidden;
Ja, deine Güte ist bereit,
Indeed your goodness was ready,
Wenn sie uns auf die Welt gebracht,
when it had brought us into the world,
Uns bald mit Liebesarmen zu umfassen.
to embrace us at once with loving arms.
Und dass wir dich nicht aus dem Sinne lassen,
And so that we do not put you out of our minds,
So wird uns deine Güt und Macht

your goodness and might
An jedem Morgen neu.
are renewed every morning.
Drum kommt's, da wir dies wissen,
It follows therefore since we know this
Dass wir von Herzensgrunde rühmen müssen:
that we must thank you from the bottom of our hearts:
Nun danket alle Gott, der große Dinge tut an allen Enden.
Now thank the God of all who does great things everywhere.

Tenor:
Nun, Herr, es werde
diese Lieb und Treu
Now, Lord, may this love and faithfulness
Auch heute den Verlobten neu;
be also renewed today for the betrothed;
Und da jetzt die Verlobten beide
and since now both the betrothed
Vor dein hochheilig Angesichte treten
come before your most holy face
Und voller Andacht beten,
and pray full of devotion,
So höre sie vor deinem Throne
then hear them before your throne
Und gib zu unsrer Freude,
and to our joy give,
Was ihnen gut und selig ist, zum Lohne.
what is good and blessed to them as a reward.

3

Aria [Soprano]

Violino concertante, Violino I/II, Viola, Continuo

Leit, o Gott, durch deine Liebe
Guide, O God, through your love
Dieses neu verlobte Paar.
this newly betrothed pair.
Mach an ihnen kräftig wahr,
Make powerfully true for them,
Was dein Wort uns vorgeschrieben,
what your word has prescribed for us,
Dass du denen, die dich lieben,
that for those who love you,
Wohltun wollest immerdar.
you will always do good.

Second Part (after the wedding)

4

Sinfonia

Tromba I-III, Tamburi, Oboe I e Violino I all' unisono, Oboe II e Violino II all' unisono, Viola, Organo obligato, Continuo

5

Recitative [Tenor] and Chorus

Continuo - Violino I/II, Viola, Continuo

Herr Zebaoth,
Lord of Sabaoth,
Herr, unsrer Väter Gott,
Lord, God our Father,
Erhöre unser Flehn,
hear our plea,
Gib deinen Segen und Gedeihn
grant your blessing and prosperity
Zu dieser neuen Ehe,
on this new marriage,
Dass all ihr Tun in, von und mit dir gehe.
so that all their actions may go in, from and with you.
Laß alles, was durch dich geschehen,
Make everything that happens through you,
In dir gesegnet sein,
be blessed in you,
Vertreibe alle Not
drive away all distress
Und führe die Vertrauten beide
and lead the betrothed couple
So, wie du willt,
as you will,
Nur stets zu dir.
but always to you.
So werden diese für und für
Then forever they will be
Mit wahrer Seelenfreude
with true joy in their souls
Und deinem reichen Segen,
and with your rich blessing,
An welchem alles auf der Welt gelegen,
on which everything in the world rests,
Gesättigt und erfüllt.
Satisfied and fulfilled.
Erhör uns, lieber Herre Gott.
Hear us, dear Lord God.

6

Aria (Duet) [Alto, Tenor]

Oboe d'amore I/II, Violino I/II, Viola, Continuo

Herr, fange an und sprich den Segen
Lord, begin and give your blessing
Auf dieses deines Dieners Haus.
upon this your servant's house.
Laß sie in deiner Furcht bekleiben,
In your fear let them be fixed,
So werden sie in Segen bleiben;
then they will remain in your blessing;
Erheb auf sie dein Angesichte,
Lift up your face upon them,
So geht's gewiss in Segen aus.
then they will go along with your blessing.

7

Recitative [Bass]

Continuo

Der Herr, Herr unser Gott, sei so mit euch,
May the Lord, Lord our God, be with you,
Als er mit eurer Väter Schar
as he was with the flock of our fathers
Vor diesem und auch jetzo war.
before this time and also now.
Er pflanz euch Ephraim und dem Manasse gleich.
He plants you as he did Ephraim and Manasseh.
Er lass euch nicht,
he does not leave you,
Er zieh nicht von euch seine Hand.
he does not take his hand away from you,
Er neige euer Herz und Sinn
he inclines your heart and mind
Stets zu ihm hin,
continually towards him
Dass ihr in seinen Wegen wandelt,
so that you walk in his way,
In euern Taten weislich handelt.
act wisely in all you do.
Sein Geist sei euch stets zugewandt.
May his spirit to be continually turned towards you.
Wenn dieses nun geschicht,
If this happens
So werden alle eure Taten
then all that you do
Nach Wunsch geraten.
will be according to your wish
Und eurer frommen Eltern Segen
and the blessing of your pious parents
Wird sich gedoppelt auf euch legen.
shall be doubly laid upon you.
Wir aber wollen Gott mit Lob und Singen
But we shall bring to God with praise and singing
Ein Dank- und Freudenopfer bringen.
an offering to show our thanks and joy.

8

Chorale

Tromba I-III, Tamburi, Oboe I/II e Violino I col Soprano, Violino II coll'Alto, Viola col Tenore, Continuo

Lobe den Herren, der deinen Stand sichtbar gesegnet,
Praise the Lord who has clearly blessed your position in life,
Der aus dem Himmel mit Strömen der Liebe geregnet.
Who has rained down from heaven with streams of love.
Denke daran,
Think about
Was der Allmächtige kann,
what the Almighty can do
Der dir mit Liebe begegnet.
Who encounters you with his love.

Lobe den Herren, was in mir ist, lobe den Namen.
Praise the Lord, whatever is it me, praise his name.

--

This Translation in Parallel Format

English Translation by Francis Browne (June 2008)
Contributed by Francis Browne (June 2008)

Cantata BWV 120a: Herr Gott, Beherrscher aller Dinge for Wedding (1729 ?)
Discography: Details & Complete Recordings | Recordings of Individual Movements
Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

BWV 120a Text: German-1 | German-6 | German-7 | NBA Text
Translations: English-1 | English-3I | English-3P | English-6 | English-10
French-6 | Russian-1 | Russian-3 | Spanish-7

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