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Cantata BWV 136
Erforsche mich, Gott, und erfahre mein Herz
English Translation in Interlinear Format
Cantata BWV 136 - Search me, God, and know my heart

Event: Cantata for the 8th Sunday after Trinity
Readings:
Epistle: Romans 8: 12-17; Gospel: Matthew 7: 15-23
Text:
Psalm 139: 23 (Mvt. 1); Johann Heermann (Mvt. 6); Anon (Mvts. 2-5) [W. Murray Young suggests Christian Weiss, Sr.]
Chorale Text:
Wo soll ich fliehen hin

Biblical quotations in green font, chorales in purple

1

Chorus [S, A, T, B]

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

Erforsche mich, Gott, und erfahre mein Herz;
Search me, God, and know my heart;
prüfe mich und erfahre, wie ichs meine!
test me and know what I think!

2

Recitative [Tenor]

Continuo

Ach, dass der Fluch, so dort die Erde schlägt
Alas, how I wish that the curse that strikes the Earth
Auch derer Menschen Herz getrogen!
had struck also the hearts of men!
Wer kann auf gute Früchte hoffen,
Who can hope for good fruit,
Da dieser Fluch bis in die Seele dringet,
when this curse pierces as far as the soul
So dass sie Sündendornen bringet
so that it brings forth the thorns of sin
Und Lasterdisteln trägt.
And bears the thistles of vice.
Doch wollen sich oftmals die Kinder der Höllen
Yet the children of hell would often
In Engel des Lichtes verstellen;
present themselves as angels of light;
Man soll bei dem verderbten Wesen
we should with our corrupted nature
Von diesen Dornen Trauben lesen.
gather tears from these thorns.
Ein Wolf will sich mit reiner Wolle decken,
A wolf would cover himself in pure wool,
Doch bricht ein Tag herein,
but the day dawns
Der wird, ihr Heuchler, euch ein Schrecken,
which for, you hypocrites, will be terror
Ja unerträglich sein>
indeed truly unbearable.

3

Aria [Alto]

Oboe d'amore, Continuo

Es kömmt ein Tag,
A day will come
So das Verborgne richtet,
when what is hidden will be judged,
Vor dem die Heuchelei erzittern mag.
before which hypocrisy may tremble
Denn seines Eifers Grimm vernichtet,
for the fury of his jealousy brings to nothing
Was Heuchelei und List erdichtet.
whatever hypocrisy and cunning have invented.

4

Recitative [Bass]

Continuo

Die Himmel selber sind nicht rein,
The heavens themselves are not pure,
Wie soll es nun ein Mensch vor diesem Richter sein?
how then will it be for a man before this judge?
Doch wer durch Jesu Blut gereinigt,
Yet whoever is purified through Jesus God,
Im Glauben sich mit ihm vereinigt,
united with him in faith,
Weiß, dass er ihm kein hartes Urteil spricht.
knows no harsh sentence would be pronounced against him.
Kränkt ihn die Sünde noch,
If his sins still weaken him,
Der Mangel seiner Werke,
the lack of good deeds,
Er hat in Christo doch
yet he still has in Christ
Gerechtigkeit und Stärke.
justice and might.

5

Aria (Duetto) [Tenor, Bass]

Violino I/II all' unisono, Continuo

Uns treffen zwar der Sünden Flecken,
Indeed, the marks of sin still are on us
So Adams Fall auf uns gebracht.
which Adams fall brought upon us.
Allein, wer sich zu Jesu Wunden,
But whoever has found the wounds of Jesus
Dem großen Strom voll Blut gefunden,
and the great stream of blood
Wird dadurch wieder rein gemacht.
Will be purified by him.

6

Chorale [S, A, T, B]

Violino I, Corno e Oboe e Oboe d'amore col Soprano, Violino II coll'Alto, Viola col Tenore, Continuo

Dein Blut, der edle Saft,
Your blood, the noble liquid
Hat solche Stärk und Kraft,
has such force and might
Dass auch ein Tröpflein kleine
that even one small drop
Die ganze Welt kann reine,
can make pure the whole world,
Ja, gar aus Teufels Rachen
i
ndeed, from the devil's jaws themselves
Frei, los und ledig machen.
c
an make us free, released and unattached.

--

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

Cantata BWV 136: Complete Recordings | Recordings of Individual Movements | Discussions
German Text | Translations: Dutch | English-1 | English-3 | English-6 | French-4 | French-6 | Hebrew-1 | Indonesian | Italian-2 | Russian-1 | Spanish-3
Chorale Text:
Wo soll ich fliehen hin

English Translations in Interlinear Format (English-3): Sorted by BWV Number | Sorted by Title | Sorted by Event | Note on English Translations

Texts & Translations: 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 1081-1089 | BWV Anh | Chorale Texts | Sources | Poets & Composers | Discussions: Texts | Translations: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

Introduction | Cantatas | Other Vocal | Instrumental | Performers | General Topics | Articles | Books | Movies | New
Biographies | Texts & Translations | Scores | References | Commentary | Music | Concerts | Bach Tour | Memorabilia
Chorale Texts | Chorale Melodies | Lutheran Church Year | Readings | Poets & Composers | Transcriptions
Search Website | Search Works/Movements | Terms & Abbreviations | Copyright | How to contribute | Sitemap | Links

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Last update: ýNovember 20, 2008 ý00:46:31