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Cantata BWV 155
Mein Gott, wie lang, ach lange
?
English Translation in Interlinear Format
Cantata BWV 155 - My God, how long, ah how long?

Event: Solo Cantata for the 2nd Sunday after Epiphany
Readings: Epistle: Romans 12: 6-16; Gospel: John 2: 1-11
Text:
Salomo Franck (Mvts. 1-4); Paul Speratus (Mvt. 5)
Chorale Text:
Es ist das Heil uns kommen her

Biblical quotations in green font, chorales in purple

1

Recitative [Soprano]

Violino I/II, Viola, Continuo

Mein Gott, wie lang, ach lange?
My God, how long, ah how long?
Des Jammers ist zuviel,
my misery is too much,
Ich sehe gar kein Ziel
I see no end at all
Der Schmerzen und der Sorgen!
to my sorrows and anxieties!
Dein süßer Gnadenblick
Your sweet look of mercy
Hat unter Nacht und Wolken sich verborgen,
is hidden beneath night and clouds,
Die Liebeshand zieht sich, ach! ganz zurück,
your loving hand, alas, has been completely withdrawn,
Um Trost ist mir sehr bange.
I am most anxious about my comfort.
Ich finde, was mich Armen täglich kränket,
Each day in my wretchedness I find something that pains me,
Der Tränen Maß wird stets voll eingeschenket,
my cup of tears is always filled to overflowing
Der Freuden Wein gebricht:
but I have no wine of joy
Mir sinkt fast alle Zuversicht.
Almost all my reassurance sinks.

2

Aria (Duetto) [Alto, tenor]

Fagotto, Continuo

Du musst glauben, du musst hoffen,
You must believe, you must hope
Du musst gottgelassen sein!
You must be calm before God!
Jesus weiß die rechten Stunden,
Jesus knows the right time
Dich mit Hilfe zu erfreun.
to make you rejoice with his help,
Wenn die trübe Zeit verschwunden,
when the troubled times have vanished
Steht sein ganzes Herz dir offen.
His whole heart will be open to you.

3

Recitative [Bass]

Continuo

So sei, o Seele, sei zufrieden!
Then be, O soul, be at peace!
Wenn es vor deinen Augen scheint,
if it seems to your eyes
Als ob dein liebster Freund
that your dearest friend
Sich ganz von dir geschieden;
has gone away from you completely;
Wenns er dich kurze Zeit verlässt,
if he has left you for a short time
Herz! glaube fest,
heart ! Have firm faith
Es wird ein Kleines sein,
it will only be for a little
Da er für bittre Zähren
before in place of your bitter tears
Den Trost- und Freudenwein
he will grant you the wine of consolation and joy
Und Honigseim für Wermut will gewähren!
And fresh honey in place of wormwood!
Ach! denke nicht,
Ah, do not think
Dass er von Herzen dich betrübe,
that he causes you sorrow from his heart,
Er prüfet nur durch Leiden deine Liebe,
he is only testing your love through suffering,
Er machet, dass dein Herz bei trüben Stunden weine,
he makes you weep during times of trouble
Damit sein Gnadenlicht
so the light of his grace
Dir desto lieblicher erscheine;
may shine on you more dearly;
Er hat, was dich ergötzt,
what delights you he has
Zuletzt
for the end
Zu deinem Trost dir vorbehalten;
kept back for your consolation.
Drum lass ihn nur, o Herz, in allem walten!
Therefore,o heart, let him rule in all things!

4

Aria [Soprano]

Violino I/II, Viola, Continuo

Wirf, mein Herze, wirf dich noch
Throw yourself,my heart, just throw yourself
In des Höchsten Liebesarme,
into the loving arms of the Almighty,
Dass er deiner sich erbarme.
so that he may feel compassion for you.
Lege deiner Sorgen Joch,
Place the yoke of your cares
Und was dich bisher beladen,
and what has burdened you up till now
Auf die Achseln seiner Gnaden.
on the shoulders of his grace.

5

Chorale [S, A, T, B]

Violino I col Soprano, Violino II coll'Alto, Viola col Tenore, Continuo

Ob sichs anließ, als wollt er nicht,
Although it may seem as if he is not willing,
Laß dich es nicht erschrecken,
do not be alarmed
Denn wo er ist am besten mit,
for when he is closest to you
Da will ers nicht entdecken.
He does not reveal himself.
Sein Wort lass dir gewisser sein,
Let his word be more certain for you
Und ob dein Herz spräch lauter Nein,
and although your heart only says no
So lass doch dir nicht grauen.
do not let yourself be terrified.

--

This Translation in Parallel Format

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

Cantata BWV 155: Mein Gott, wie lang, ach lange? for 2nd Sunday after Epiphany (1716)
Discography: Details & Complete Recordings | Recordings of Individual Movements
Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

BWV 155 Text: German-1 | German-6 | German-7 | NBA Text
Translations: English-1 | English-3I | English-3P | English-6 | English-10 | English-13 | English-14
Catalan-1 | Chinese-1 | Chinese-2 | Danish-1 | Dutch-0 | Dutch-3 | French-3 | French-4 | French-5 | French-6 | Hebrew-1 | Hebrew-6 | Hungarian-1 | Indonesian-1 | Italian-2 | Norwegian-1 | Polish-1 | Russian-1 | Russian-3 | Spanish-2 | Spanish-3 | Spanish-7 | Spanish/English-8
Chorale Text: Es ist das Heil uns kommen her [BWV 155/5]

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 14:23