Event: New Year's Day [Circumcision of Christ, Holy Name]
Readings: Epistle: Galatians 3: 23-29; Gospel: Luke 2: 21
Text: Martin Luther (Mvt. 1); Paul Eber (Mvt. 6); Georg Christian Lehms (Mvts. 2-5)
Chorale Text: Herr Gott, dich loben wir [The German Tedeum] | Helft mir Gotts Güte preisen

1

Chorus [S, A, T, B]

Corno da caccia col Soprano, Oboe I e Violino I all' unisono, Oboe II e Violino II all' unisono, Viola, Continuo

Herr Gott, dich loben wir,
Lord God, we praise you,
Herr Gott, wir danken dir.
Lord God, we thank you.
Dich, Gott Vater in Ewigkeit,
You, God the Father in eternity,
Ehret die Welt weit und breit.
are honoured by the world far and wide.

2

Recitative [Bass]

Continuo

So stimmen wir
Therefore we begin to sing
Bei dieser frohen Zeit
at this joyful time
Mit heißer Andacht an
with ardent devotion
Und legen dir,
and lay before you
O Gott, auf dieses neue Jahr
O God, at this new year
Das erste Herzensopfer dar.
the first offering of our hearts.
Was hast du nicht von Ewigkeit
What have you not from eternity
Vor Heil an uns getan,
done for our salvation,
Und was muß unsre Brust
and what more have our breasts
Noch jetzt vor Lieb und Treu verspüren!
to perceive of your love and faithfulness!
Dein Zion sieht vollkommne Ruh,
Your Zion sees perfect peace,
Es fällt ihm Glück und Segen zu;
there falls to his share happiness and blessing.
Der Tempel schallt
The temple resounds
Von Psaltern und von Harfen,
with psalteries and harps
Und unsre Seele wallt,
and our soul burns
Wenn wir nur Andachtsglut in Herz und Munde führen.
if we express with our heart and mouth the fire of devotion.
O, sollte darum nicht ein neues Lied erklingen
Oh, for this reason should not a new song ring out
Und wir in heißer Liebe singen?
and should we not sing in ardent love?

3

Aria [Bass] and Chorus

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

Chor:
Laßt uns jauchzen, laßt uns freuen:
Let us shout with joy, let us rejoice:
Gottes Güt und Treu
God's goodness and faithfulness
Bleibet alle Morgen neu.
remain new every morning.

Bass:
Krönt und segnet seine Hand,
Crown and bless his hand -
Ach so glaubt, daß unser Stand
ah have this faith - so that our state
Ewig, ewig glücklich sei.
may be happy for ever and ever.

4

Recitative [Alto]

Continuo

Ach treuer Hort,
Ah faithful stronghold,
Beschütz auch fernerhin dein wertes Wort,
protect also in the future your precious word,
Beschütze Kirch und Schule,
protect church and school;
So wird dein Reich vermehrt
in this way your kingdom will be increased
Und Satans arge List gestört;
and Satan's wicked cunning destroyed;
Erhalte nur den Frieden
only maintain the peace
Und die beliebte Ruh,
and beloved calm
So ist uns schon genug beschieden,
and enough has been granted to us
Und uns fällt lauter Wohlsein zu.
and we have our share of prosperity.
Ach! Gott, du wirst das Land
Ah! God, you will continue to
Noch ferner wässern,
water this land,
Du wirst es stets verbessern,
you will make it better,
Du wirst es selbst mit deiner Hand
you yourself with your hand
Und deinem Segen bauen.
and your blessing will build it up.
Wohl uns, wenn wir
Happy are we, when we
Dir für und für,
for ever and ever
Mein Jesus und mein Heil, vertrauen.
place our trust in you, my Jesus and my salvation.

5

Aria [Tenor]

Oboe da caccia o Violetta, Continuo

Geliebter Jesu, du allein
Beloved Jesus, you alone
Sollst meiner Seelen Reichtum sein.
should be the wealth of my soul.
Wir wollen dich vor allen Schätzen
Before all treasures we want
In unser treues Herze setzen,
to place you in our faithful heart,
Ja, wenn das Lebensband zerreißt,
yes, when the ties of life are broken,
Stimmt unser gottvergnügter Geist
our spirit that finds contentment in God
Noch mit den Lippen sehnlich ein:
will still sing longingly with the lips:
Geliebter Jesu, du allein
beloved Jesus, you alone
Sollst meiner Seelen Reichtum sein.
should be the wealth of my soul.

6

Chorale [S, A, T, B]

Corno da caccia e Oboe I e Violino I col Soprano, Oboe II e Violino II e Viola coll'Alto

All solch dein Güt wir preisen,
For all this goodness of yours we praise you,
Vater ins Himmels Thron,
Father on heaven's throne.
Die du uns tust beweisen
You have shown this to us
Durch Christum, deinen Sohn,
through Christ , your son,
Und bitten ferner dich,
and we pray also that you
Gib uns ein friedlich Jahre,
give us a peaceful year,
Vor allem Leid bewahre
protect us from all suffering
Und nähr uns mildiglich.
and nourish us gently.

--

English Translation by Francis Browne (January 2003)
Contributed by Francis Browne (January 2003)

Cantata BWV 16: Complete Recordings | Recordings of Individual Movements | Discussions
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Chorale Texts: Herr Gott, dich loben wir [The German Tedeum] | Helft mir Gotts Güte preisen

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