Cantata BWV140 - English Translation [a metrical verse translation & roughly literal translation]

Cantata BWV 140 Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme English Translation [A Metrical Verse Translation & Roughly Literal Translation] Cantata BWV 140 - "Hey, wake up!" the voice calls to us
A Metrical Verse Translation
1	Chorus

	"Hey, wake up!" the voice calls to us. The guard up on the walls cries to us, "Wake up, dear town, Jerusalem!" Now in night's dark midnight hour The watcher shrilly calls with power, "Where are you, clever young women? Wake up, the Bridegroom's near. Pick up your lamps and cheer, Hallelujah! Get ready now, The wedding's on. You must go out and meet the groom.

2	Recitative Tenor

	He comes, he comes, The bridegroom comes! You Zion's daughters, now come out, He's leaving right now from the Heavens For your own mother house. The bridegroom comes, who like a roe deer and like a young stag ev'n Up on the hills now springs, To you the feast of wedding brings. Wake up, arouse your hearts The bridegroom to encounter! There, see it, his vis't now comes to pass.

3	Aria (Duet) Soprano (Soul), Bass (Jesus)

	Soul: When come you, my Health? Jesus: I come, your All. Soul: I wait, with lit, burning oil. Jesus: Throw open the hall Soul: I open the hall Both: T'the heavenly meal Soul: Come, Jesu Jesus: Come, dear lovely soul!

4	Chorale Tenor

	Zion hears the lookouts singing. In every heart new joy is pounding. All wake and hurry to get up. Your Friend comes from heaven, glorious, With Kindness, strong, with Truth victorious, The day gets bright, God's Sun is up. Now come, o worthy Crown, Lord Jesus, God's own Son, Good God save us! You call us all Into joy's hall To celebrate the Holy Meal!

5	Recitative Bass

	So come inside to me, You, my own chosen bride! I have myself with you Eternally betrothed. You will I on my heart, And on my arm just like a seal be placing And your unhappy eyes delighting. Forget, o dear soul, now The fear, the hurt, That you had to put up with; On my left hand now shall you rest, And by my right shall be caressed.

6	Aria (Duet) Soprano (Soul), Bass (Jesus)

	Soul: My friend is mine, Jesus: And I am thine, Both: This great love shall naught sever. Soul: I will with You in Heaven's roses pasture. Jesus: You shall with me in Heaven's roses pasture, Both: There gladness is filled up, there ecstasy shines.

7	Chorale

	Glory to You now by all be sung With human and with angel tongues With music, cymbals, harps, great noise. Past Your City's huge pearl gateways, No longer strangers, we share your praise With Heaven's angels round Your throne. No eye has yet discerned, Nor human ear has learned How great this joy. So we are glad, Hooray! not sad! Forever in sweet joy we're clad.

Roughly Literal Translation
1	Chorus

	Wake up, calls to us the voice Of the lookouts high on the battlements, Wake up, thou city, Jerusalem. Midnight's what this hour is called; They call us with high/bright voices: Where are you, smart virgns/maidens? Come on, the bridegroom comes; Stand up, the lamps take! Alleluja! Make yourselves ready For the wedding, You must to go to meet him.

2	Recitative Tenor

	He comes, he comes, The bridegroom comes! You daughters of Zion, come forth/out, His departure is hurrying from the heights/high place [In]to your Mother[‘s] house. The Bridegroom comes, who like a roe deer and like a young stag/roebuck On the hills springs And to you brings the meal/feast of the wedding. Wake up, rouse yourelves The Bridegroom to welcome! There, see, his coming is come to pass.

3	Aria (Duet) Soprano (Soul), Bass (Jesus)

	Soul: When comest thou, my well-being/Salvation? Jesus: I come, thy portion. Soul: I wait with burning oil. Jesus: Throw open the hall Soul: I open the hall Both: To the heavenly meal Soul: Come Jesus! Jesus: Come lovely soul!

4	Chorale Tenor

	Zion hears the lookouts singing Her heart is jumping up for joy. She wakes and quickly gets up. Her Friend comes from Heaven splendid, From Grace strong, from Truth mighty, Her light grows bright her star comes up. Now come, thou worthy Crown, Lord Jesus, God's Son! Hosanna! [God save us!] We follow all To the joyful hall/hall of joy And celebrate the Lord's Supper.

5	Recitative Bass

	So go [come] inside to me, Thou chosen to be my bride! I have myself with thee From eternity betrothed [‘Tis] thee I would set in my heart, Set on my arm just like a seal, And [‘tis thee] whose grieved eyes I would delight. Forget, o Soul, now The anxiety, the hurt, That thou hadst to suffer through; On my left [hand] shallst thou rest, And my right shall thee kiss [caress?].

6	Aria (Duet) Soprano (Soul), Bass (Jesus)

	Soul: My friend is mine. Jesus: And I am thine, Both: The/this love shall nothing separate. Soul: I want with Thee in Heaven's roses to pasture/delight. Jesus: Thou shalt with me in Heavens roses delight/pasture/graze. Both: There joy to the full, there delight and ecstasy shall be.

7	Chorale

	Glory be to Thee sung With men's and with angels' tongues, With harps and with cymbals for sure. Of twelve pearls are the portals/gates, Into Thy City; we are consorts/peers Of the angels high around Thy throne. No eye has yet discerned, No ear has yet heard Such joy, For which we're glad, Hurray, Hurray! Forever in sweet jubilation.

German Text – Philipp Nicolai
1	Chorus

	Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme Der Wächter sehr hoch auf der Zinne, Wach auf, du Stadt Jerusalem! Mitternacht heißt diese Stunde; Sie rufen uns mit hellem Munde: Wo seid ihr klugen Jungfrauen? Wohl auf, der Bräutgam kömmt; Steht auf, die Lampen nehmt! Alleluja! Macht euch bereit Zu der Hochzeit, Ihr müsset ihm entgegen gehn.

2	Recitative Tenor

	Er kommt, er kommt, Der Bräutgam kommt! Ihr Töchter Zions, kommt heraus, Sein Ausgang eilet aus der Höhe In euer Mutter Haus. Der Bräutgam kommt, der einem Rehe Und jungen Hirsche gleich Auf denen Hügeln springt Und euch das Mahl der Hochzeit bringt. Wacht auf, ermuntert euch! Den Bräutgam zu empfangen! Dort, sehet, kommt er hergegangen.

3	Aria (Duet) Soprano (Soul), Bass (Jesus)

	Soul: Wenn kömmst du, mein Heil? Jesus: Ich komme, dein Teil. Soul: Ich wart mit brennendem Öle. Jesus: Eröffne den Saal Soul: Ich öffne den Saal Both: Zum himmlischen Mahl Soul: Komm, Jesu! Jesus: Komm, liebliche Seele!

4	Chorale Tenor

	Zion hört die Wächter singen, Das Herz tut ihr vor Freuden springen, Sie wachet und steht eilend auf. Ihr Freund kommt von Himmel prächtig, Von Gnaden stark, von Wahrheit mächtig, Ihr Licht wird hell, ihr Stern geht auf. Nun komm, du werte Kron, Herr Jesu, Gottes Sohn! Hosianna! Wir folgen all Zum Freudensall Und halten mit das Abendmahl.

5	Recitative Bass

	So geh herein zu mir, Du mir erwählte Braut! Ich habe mich mit dir Von Ewigkeit vertraut. Dich will ich auf mein Herz, Auf meinem Arm gleich wie ein Siegel setzen Und dein betrübtes Aug ergötzen. Vergiß, o Seele, nun Die Angst, den Schmerz, Den du erdulden müssen; Auf meiner Linken sollst du ruhn, Und meine Rechte soll dich küssen.

6	Aria (Duet) Soprano (Soul), Bass (Jesus)

	Soul: Mein Freund ist mein, Jesus: Und ich bin dein, Both: Die Liebe soll nichts scheiden. Soul: Ich will mit dir in Himmels Rosen weiden, Jesus: du sollst mit mir in Himmels Rosen weiden, Both: Da Freude die Fülle, da Wonne wird sein.

6	Chorale

	Gloria sei dir gesungen Mit Menschen- und englischen Zungen, Mit Harfen und mit Zimbeln schon. Von zwölf Perlen sind die Pforten, An deiner Stadt sind wir Konsorten Der Engel hoch um deinen Thron. Kein Aug hat je gespürt, Kein Ohr hat je gehört Solche Freude. Des sind wir froh, Io, Io! Ewig in dulci jubilo.
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English Translation (both versions) by Paul Farseth (December 2002) Contributed by Paul Farseth (December 2002)
Cantata BWV 140: Complete Recordings \| Recordings of Individual Movements \| Discussions: Part 1 \| Part 2 \| Part 3 \| Part 4 \| Part 5 German Text \| Translations: Dutch-1 \| Dutch-3 \| Dutch-4 \| English-1 \| English-3 \| English-6 \| English-8 \| English-9 \| English-10 \| French-4 \| Hebrew-2 \| Indonesian \| Italian-5 \| Portuguese-1 \| Spanish-3
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Last update: ýApril 15, 2008 ý00:29:26