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Cantata BWV 14
Wär Gott nicht mit uns diese Zeit
English Translation in Parallel Format
Cantata BWV 14 - If God were not with us

Event: Chorale Cantata for the 4th Sunday after Epiphany
Readings: Epistle: Romans 13: 8-10; Gospel: Matthew 8: 23-27
Text: Martin Luther (Mvts. 1, 5); Anon (Mvts. 2-4)
Chorale Text: Wär Gott nicht mit uns diese Zeit

Biblical quotations in green font, chorales in purple

 

Original German Text

 

English Translation

1

Coro

1

Chorus [S, A, T, B]

 

Corno da caccia, Oboe I/II all' unisono, Violino I/II, Viola, Continuo

 

Wär Gott nicht mit uns diese Zeit,
So soll Israel sagen,
Wär Gott nicht mit uns diese Zeit,
Wir hätten müssen verzagen,
Die so ein armes Häuflein sind,
Veracht' von so viel Menschenkind,
Die an uns setzen alle.

 

If God were not with us at this time,
so should Israel say,
if God were not with us at this time,
we would have had to lose heart

since we are such a poor little flock
despised by so much of mankind,
Who all set themselves against us.

       

2

Aria S

2

Aria [Soprano]

 

Corno da caccia, Violino I/II, Viola, Continuo

   
 

Unsre Stärke heißt zu schwach,
Unserm Feind zu widerstehen.
Stünd uns nicht der Höchste bei,
Würd uns ihre Tyrannei
Bald bis an das Leben gehen.

 

Our strength is said to be too weak
To withstand our enemy.
If the Highest did not stand by us

their tyranny would
Soon touch our very life.

       

3

Recitativo T

3

Recitative [Tenor]

 

Continuo

   
 

Ja, hätt es Gott nur zugegeben,
Wir wären längst nicht mehr am Leben,
Sie rissen uns aus Rachgier hin,
So zornig ist auf uns ihr Sinn.
Es hätt uns ihre Wut
Wie eine wilde Flut
Und als beschäumte Wasser überschwemmet,
Und niemand hätte die Gewalt gehemmet.

 

Indeed, if God had only allowed it
we would long since no longer be alive,
their thirst for vengeance would tears us apart

So wrathful are theirthoughts towards us.
By their fury

like a wild flood
with foaming water we had been drowned
And no one could have checked their force.

       

4

Aria B

4

Aria [Bass]

 

Oboe I/II, Continuo

   
 

Gott, bei deinem starken Schützen
Sind wir vor den Feinden frei.
Wenn sie sich als wilde Wellen
Uns aus Grimm entgegenstellen,
Stehn uns deine Hände bei.

 

God, by your mighty protection
We are free from enemies.
when like wild waves

they furiously confront us
Your hands help us.

       

5

Choral

5

Chorale [S, A, T, B]

       
 

Gott Lob und Dank, der nicht zugab,
Dass ihr Schlund uns möcht fangen.
Wie ein Vogel des Stricks kömmt ab,
Ist unsre Seel entgangen:
Strick ist entzwei, und wir sind frei;
Des Herren Name steht uns bei,
Des Gottes Himmels und Erden.

 

Praise and thanks to God, who did not allow
That their throats should seize us.
As a bird escapes from the snare

our soul has got away
The snare is torn in two and we are free
The Name of the Lord stands by us
of the God of heaven and earth.

       

This Translation in Interlinear Format

English Translation by Francis Browne (July 2008)

Contributed by Francis Browne (July 2008)

Cantata BWV 14: Wär Gott nicht mit uns diese Zeit for 4th Sunday after Epiphany (1735)
Discography: Details & Complete Recordings | Recordings of Individual Movements
Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

BWV 14 Text: German-1 | German-2 | German-6 | German-7 | NBA Text
Translations: English-1 | English-3I | English-3P | English-6 | English-10 | English-13 | English-14
Catalan-1 | Chinese-2 | Dutch-0 | Dutch-2 | Dutch-3 | French-1 | French-4 | French-5 | French-6 | Hebrew-1 | Hungarian-1 | Indonesian-1 | Italian-2 | Norwegian-1 | Polish-1 | Polish-2 | Russian-1 | Russian-3 | Spanish-3 | Spanish-7 | Spanish/English-8
Chorale Text: Wär Gott nicht mit uns diese Zeit [BWV 14/1-5]

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