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Cantata BWV 157
Ich lasse dich nicht, du segnest mich denn!
English Translation in Parallel Format
Cantata BWV 157 - I am not letting you go, unless you bless me first!

Event: Solo Cantata for the Feast of Purification of Mary
Readings: Epistle: Malachi 3: 1-4; Gospel: Luke 2: 22-32
Text: Genesis 32: 26 (Mvt. 1); Christian Keymann (Mvt. 5); Christian Friedrich Henrici (Picander) (Mvts. 2-5)
Chorale Text: Meinen Jesum laß' ich nicht

Biblical quotations in green font, chorales in purple

 

Original German Text

 

English Translation

1

Aria (Duetto) T B

1

Aria (Duet) [Tenor, Bass]

 

Flauto traverso, Oboe, Violino solo, Continu

   
 

Ich lasse dich nicht, du segnest mich denn!

 

I am not letting you go, unless you bless me first!

       

2

Aria T

2

Aria [Tenor]

 

Oboe d'amore, Continuo

   
 

Ich halte meinen Jesum feste,
Ich lass ihn nun und ewig nicht.
Er ist allein mein Aufenthalt,
Drum fasst mein Glaube mit Gewalt
Sein segenreiches Angesicht;
Denn dieser Trost ist doch der beste.
Ich halte meinen Jesum feste.

 

I hold my Jesus firmly,
now and always I do not let him go.
He alone is where I abide,
and so my faith forcefully seizes on
his countenance rich in blessings.
For this is certainly the best comfort.
I hold my Jesus firmly.

       

3

Recitativo T

3

Recitative [Tenor]

 

Violino I/II, Violetta, Continuo

   
 

Mein lieber Jesu du,
Wenn ich Verdruss und Kummer leide,
So bist du meine Freude,
In Unruh meine Ruh
Und in der Angst mein sanftes Bette;
Die falsche Welt ist nicht getreu,
Der Himmel muss veralten,
Die Lust der Welt vergeht wie Spreu;
Wenn ich dich nicht, mein Jesu, hätte,
An wen sollt ich mich sonsten halten?
Drum lass ich nimmermehr von dir,
Dein Segen bleibe denn bei mir.

 

My dear Jesus, you,
when I suffer vexation and sorrow,
you are then my delight,
in unrest [you are] my rest,
and in anguish [you are] my soft bed;
The false world is not truthful,
the heavens must grow old,
the pleasures of the world pass away like chaff;
If I did not have you , my Jesus,
to whom else could I hold on ?
Therefore I shall nevermore let you go,
Then your blessing stays with me.

       

4

Aria, Recitativo e Arioso B

4

Aria, Recitativo e Arioso [Bass]

 

Flauto traverso, Violino, Continuo

   
 

Ja, ja, ich halte Jesum feste,
So geh ich auch zum Himmel ein,
Wo Gott und seines Lammes Gäste
In Kronen zu der Hochzeit sein.
Da lass ich nicht, mein Heil, von dir,
Da bleibt dein Segen auch bei mir.

 

Yes, yes, I hold on firmly to Jesus,
and so I also enter into heaven
where God and the guests of his lamb
with crowns are at the wedding feast.
There I do not let go, my saviour, of you
there, your blessing remains also with me.

 

Ei, wie vergnügt
Ist mir mein Sterbekasten,
Weil Jesus mir in Armen liegt!
So kann mein Geist recht freudig rasten!

 

Ah, how delightful
is my coffin for me
since Jesus lies in my arms.
And so my soul can rest joyfully!

 

Ja, ja, ich halte Jesum feste,
So geb ich auch zum Himmel ein!
O schöner Ort!
Komm, sanfter Tod, und führ mich fort,
Wo Gott und seines Lammes Gäste
In Kronen zu der Hochzeit sein.

 

Yes, yes, I hold on firmly to Jesus
and so I also enter heaven.
Oh beautiful place !
Come, gentle death, and take me away
where God and the guests of his lamb
with crowns are at the wedding feast.

 

Ich bin erfreut,
Das Elend dieser Zeit
Noch von mir heute abzulegen;
Denn Jesus wartet mein im Himmel mit dem Segen.

 

I am delighted
the misery of this time
to put away from me today;
For Jesus waits for me in heaven with his blessing.

 

Da lass ich nicht, mein Heil, von dir,
Da bleibt dein Segen auch bei mir.

 

There I do not let go, my saviour, of you,
there, your blessing remains also with me.

       

5

Choral

5

Choral [S, A, T, B]

 

Flauto traverso in octava e Oboe e Violino I col Soprano, Violino II coll'Alto, Violetta col Tenore, Continuo

 

Meinen Jesum lass ich nicht,
Geh ihm ewig an der Seiten;
Christus lässt mich für und für
Zu dem Lebensbächlein leiten.
Selig, wer mit mir so spricht:
Meinen Jesum lass ich nicht.

 

I do not leave my Jesus
I go along always at his side
Christ allows me for ever and ever
to be guided to the springs of life
Happy is whoever who says with me :
I do not leave my Jesus.

       

This Translation in Interlinear Format

English Translation by Francis Browne (February 2002)

Contributed by Francis Browne (February 2002)

Cantata BWV 157: Ich lasse dich nicht, du segnest mich denn! for Feast of Purification of Mary (1727) / Funeral
Discography: Details & Complete Recordings | Recordings of Individual Movements
Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

BWV 157 Text: German-1 | 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-3 | French-3 | French-4 | French-5 | French-6 | Hebrew-1 | Indonesian-1 | Italian-5 | Norwegian-1 | Polish-1 | Russian-1 | Russian-3 | Spanish-3 | Spanish-7 | Spanish/English-8
Chorale Text: Meinen Jesum laß' ich nicht [BWV 157/5]

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