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Cantata BWV 132
Bereitet die Wege, bereitet die Bahn
!
English Translation in Interlinear Format
Cantata BWV 132 - Prepare the ways

Event: Solo Cantata for the 4th Sunday in Advent
Readings:
Epistle: Philippians 4: 4-7; Gospel: John 1: 19-28
Text:
Salomo Franck (Mvts. 1-5); Elisabeth Kreuziger (Mvt. 6)
Chorale Text:
Herr Christ, der einge Gottessohn

Biblical quotations in green font, chorales in purple

1

Aria [Soprano]

Oboe (Fagotto), Violino I/II, Viola, Continuo

Bereitet die Wege, bereitet die Bahn!
Prepare the ways, prepare the path!
Bereitet die Wege
Prepare the ways
Und machet die Stege
and make the footpaths
Im Glauben und Leben
in faith and in life
Dem Höchsten ganz eben,
smooth before the Highest.
Messias kömmt an!
The Messiah is coming!

2

Recitative [Tenor]

Continuo

Willst du dich Gottes Kind und Christi Bruder nennen,
If you want to be called God's child and Christ's brother,
So müssen Herz und Mund den Heiland frei bekennen.
then your heart and your mouth must freely acknowledge the saviour.
Ja, Mensch, dein ganzes Leben
Indeed, Man, your whole life
Muss von dem Glauben Zeugnis geben!
must bear witness to your faith!
Soll Christi Wort und Lehre
If Christ's words and teaching
Auch durch dein Blut versiegelt sein,
have to be sealed with your blood,
So gib dich willig drein!
give yourself up to this willingly!
Denn dieses ist der Christen Kron und Ehre.
For this is the Crown and honour of the Christian.
Indes, mein Herz, bereite
Meanwhile my heart prepare
Noch heute
this very day
Dem Herrn die Glaubensbahn
the path of faith for the Lord
Und räume weg die Hügel und die Höhen,
and clear out of the way the hills and the heights
Die ihm entgegen stehen!
which stand in his way!
Wälz ab die schweren Sündensteine,
Roll away the heavy stones of sin
Nimm deinen Heiland an,
accept your saviour
Dass er mit dir im Glauben sich vereine!
so that he may unite himself with you faith!

3

Aria [Bass]

Violoncello, Continuo

Wer bist du? Frage dein Gewissen,
Who are you? Ask your conscience,
Da wirst du sonder Heuchelei,
then without hypocrisy
Ob du, o Mensch, falsch oder treu,
whether you,O Man, are false or true
Dein rechtes Urteil hören müssen.
you must hear the right judgement about yourself.
Wer bist du? Frage das Gesetze,
Who are you? Ask the law,
Das wird dir sagen, wer du bist,
that will tell you who you are,
Ein Kind des Zorns in Satans Netze.
a child of wrath in Satan's snares,
Ein falsch und heuchlerischer Christ.
A falseand hypocritical Christian.

4

Recitative [Alto]

Violino I/II, Viola, Continuo

Ich will, mein Gott, dir frei heraus bekennen,
I shall freely and openly acknowledge to you, my God,
Ich habe dich bisher nicht recht bekannt.
that up to now I have not rightly acknowledged you.
Ob Mund und Lippen gleich dich Herrn und Vater nennen,
Though my mouth and lips call you Lord and Father,
Hat sich mein Herz doch von dir abgewandt.
yet my heart has been turned away from you.
Ich habe dich verleugnet mit dem Leben!
I have denied you with my life!
Wie kannst du mir ein gutes Zeugnis geben?
How can you give good testimony about me?
Als, Jesu, mich dein Geist und Wasserbad
When, Jesus your spirit and the water of baptism
Gereiniget von meiner Missetat,
purified me from my misdeeds
Hab ich dir zwar stets feste Treu versprochen;
I did indeed promise steadfast faithfulness to you;
Ach! aber ach! der Taufbund ist gebrochen.
Ah ! Alas! The covenant of baptism is broken.
Die Untreu reuet mich!
I repent my unfaithfulness!
Ach Gott, erbarme dich,
Ah, God, have mercy on me
Ach hilf, dass ich mit unverwandter Treue
Ah, help me, so that with immutable faithfulness
Den Gnadenbund im Glauben stets erneue!
I may constantly renew the covenant of grace by my faith!

5

Aria [Alto]

Violino solo, Continuo

Christi Glieder, ach bedenket,
Members of Christ, ah, consider
Was der Heiland euch geschenket
what the saviour has bestowed on you
Durch der Taufe reines Bad!
Through thr pure bath of baptism!
Bei der Blut- und Wasserquelle
From this fountain of blood and water
Werden eure Kleider helle,
your garments become bright
Die befleckt von Missetat.
that were stained by your sins.
Christus gab zum neuen Kleide
Christ gave you new clothes
Roten Purpur, weiße Seide,
scarlet purple, white silk.
Diese sind der Christen Staat.
These are the finery of a Christian.

6

Chorale [S, A, T, B]

instrumentation lost

Ertöt uns durch deine Güte;
Kill us through your kindness;
Erweck uns durch deine Gnad;
awaken us through your grace;
Den alten Menschen kränke,
weaken the old man
Dass der neu' leben mag
so that the new man may live
Wohl hie auf dieser Erden,
even here on this earth
Den Sinn und Begehrden
with his mind and his desires
Und G'danken habn zu dir.
and thoughts all on you.

--

This Translation in Parallel Format

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

Cantata BWV 132: Bereitet die Wege, bereitet die Bahn! for 4th Sunday in Advent (1715)
Discography: Details & Complete Recordings | Recordings of Individual Movements
Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

BWV 132 Text: German-1 | German-2 | German-6 | German-7 | NBA Text
Translations: English-1 | English-3I | English-3P | English-6 | English-10 | English-14
Catalan-1 | Chinese-2 | Danish-1 | Dutch-0 | Dutch-4 | French-3 | French-4 | French-5 | French-6 | Hebrew-1 | Hungarian-1 | Indonesian-1 | Italian-2 | Kobayashi | Norwegian-1 | Polish-1 | Russian-1 | Russian-3 | Spanish-3 | Spanish-7 | Spanish/English-8
Chorale Text: Herr Christ, der einge Gottessohn [BWV 132/6]

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