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Cantata BWV 127
Herr Jesu Christ, wahr' Mensch und Gott
English Translation in Parallel Format
Cantata BWV 127 - Lord Jesus Christ, true man and God

Event: Chorale Cantata for Quinquagesima Sunday [Estomihi]
Readings: Epistle: 1 Corinthians 13: 1-13; Gospel: Luke 18: 31-43
Text: Paul Eber (Mvts. 1, 5); Anon (Mvts. 2-4) (probably Christian Friedrich Henrici (Picander))
Chorale Text: Christ, wahr Mensch und Gott

Biblical quotations in green font, chorales in purple

 

Original German Text

 

English Translation

1

Coro

1

Chorus [S, A, T, B]

 

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

   
 

Herr Jesu Christ, wahr' Mensch und Gott,
Der du littst Marter, Angst und Spott,
Für mich am Kreuz auch endlich starbst
Und mir deins Vaters Huld erwarbst,
Ich bitt durchs bittre Leiden dein:
Du wollst mir Sünder gnädig sein.

 

Lord Jesus Christ, true God and man
you who suffered torture, anguish and derision,
who finally died for me on the cross
and gained for me grace from your father
I beg you through your bitter suffering:
May it be your will to be merciful to me a sinner.

       

2

Recitativo T

2

Recitative [Tenor]

 

Continuo

   
 

Wenn alles sich zur letzten Zeit entsetzet,
Und wenn ein kalter Todesschweiß
Die schon erstarrten Glieder netzet,
Wenn meine Zunge nichts, als nur durch Seufzer spricht
Und dieses Herze bricht:
Genug, dass da der Glaube weiß,
Dass Jesus bei mir steht,
Der mit Geduld zu seinem Leiden geht
Und diesen schweren Weg auch mich geleitet
Und mir die Ruhe zubereitet.

 

When everybody is terrified of the last time
and when a cold, deathly sweat
bathes the limbs which are already stiff,
when my tongue says nothing but can only sigh
and this heart breaks:
it is enough, that then faith knows
that Jesus stands by me
who goes with patience to his suffering

and also accompanies me on this hard way
And prepares peace for me.

       

3

Aria S

3

Aria [Soprano]

 

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

   
 

Die Seele ruht in Jesu Händen,
Wenn Erde diesen Leib bedeckt.
Ach ruft mich bald, ihr Sterbeglocken,
Ich bin zum Sterben unerschrocken,
Weil mich mein Jesus wieder weckt.

 

My soul rests in the hands of Jesus,
Though earth covers this body
Ah, call me soon, you funereal bells,

I am not terrified to die
Since my Jesus will awaken me again.

       

4

Recitativo e Aria B

4

Recitative and Aria [Bass]

 

Tromba, Violino I/II, Viola, Continuo

   
 

Wenn einstens die Posaunen schallen,
Und wenn der Bau der Welt
Nebst denen Himmelsfesten
Zerschmettert wird zerfallen,
So denke mein, mein Gott, im besten;
Wenn sich dein Knecht einst vors Gerichte stellt,
Da die Gedanken sich verklagen,
So wollest du allein,
O Jesu, mein Fürsprecher sein
Und meiner Seele tröstlich sagen:

 

When one day the trumpets sound
and when the whole fabric of the earth
as well as the fimament of heaven
shatters and falls
then think kindly of me my God, ;
when your servants stands before your judgement
when my thoughts accuse me
then may you alone be willing
to be my spokesman
and say consolingly to my soul:

 

Fürwahr, fürwahr, euch sage ich:
Wenn Himmel und Erde im Feuer vergehen,
So soll doch ein Gläubiger ewig bestehen.
Er wird nicht kommen ins Gericht
Und den Tod ewig schmecken nicht.
Nur halte dich,
Mein Kind, an mich:
Ich breche mit starker und helfender Hand
Des Todes gewaltig geschlossenes Band.

 

Truly truly I say to you:
even if heaven and earth perish in fire
He who believes shall endure forever
he will not come to judgement
And he will not taste death forever
only cling
to me my child:

I break with strong and helping hand
he strongly knotted bonds of death.

       

5

Aria T

5

Chorale [S, A, T, B]

 

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

 

Ach, Herr, vergib all unsre Schuld,
Hilf, dass wir warten mit Geduld,
Bis unser Stündlein kömmt herbei,
Auch unser Glaub stets wacker sei,
Dein'm Wort zu trauen festiglich,
Bis wir einschlafen seliglich.

 

Lord, pardon all our guilt
help us to wait with patience
until it is time for the hour of our death
May our faith also always be vigilant
to trust firmly in your word

Until we sleep in blessedness.

       

This Translation in Interlinear Format

English Translation by Francis Browne (March 2007)

Contributed by Francis Browne (March 2007)

Cantata BWV 127: Herr Jesu Christ, wahr' Mensch und Gott for Quinquagesima Sunday (1725)
Discography: Details & Complete Recordings | Recordings of Individual Movements
Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Passion Chorale

BWV 127 Text: German-1 | German-6 (1) | German-6 (2) | German-7 (1) | German-7 (2) | NBA Text
Translations: English-1 | English-3I | English-3P | English-6 | English-8 | English-10 | English-13 | English-14
Catalan-1 | Chinese-2 | Danish-1 | Dutch-0 | Dutch-1 | 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: Herr Jesu Christ, wahr Mensch und Gott [BWV 127/1,~2-4,5]

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