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Text for Cantata 170
Vergnügte Ruh, beliebte Seelenlust

Original German Text

English Translation

1. ARIA (Alt)

Vergnügte Ruh, beliebte Seelenlust,
dich kann man nicht bei Höllensünden,
wohl aber Himmelseintracht finden;
du stärkst allein die schwache Brust.
Drum sollen lauter Tugendgaben
in meinem Herzen Wohnung haben.

Contented rest, beloved soul’s delight,
you cannot be found among the sins of hell,
but rather by the concord of heaven;
you alone empower the feeble breast.
Hence vast bounties of virtue
shall have their dwelling within my heart.

2. REZITATIV (Alt)

Die Welt, das Sündenhaus,
bricht nur in Höllenlieder aus
und sucht durch Haß und Neid
des Satans Bild an sich zu tragen.
Ihr Mund ist voller Ottergift,
der oft die Unschuld tödlich trifft,
und will allein von Racha sagen.
Gerechter Gott, wie weit ist doch der Mensch
von dir entfernet;
du liebst, jedoch sein Mund
macht Fluch und Feindschaft kund
und will den Nächsten nur mit Füßen treten.
Ach! diese Schuld ist schwerlich zu verbeten.

The world, this home of sin,
can only render hellish songs
and seeks through hatred and envy
to advance the image of Satan.
Its mouth is full of venom
which often mortally assaults the innocent
and only speaks of “Raca!”*.
Righteous God, how far indeed humanity
has distanced itself from you;
you love, even while their mouths
wield curses and hostility
only wanting to trample their neighbor under foot.
Oh! such fault is hard to reconcile.

3. ARIA (Alt)

Wie jammern mich doch die verkehrten Herzen,
die dir, mein Gott, so sehr zuwider sein;
ich zittre recht und fühle tausend Schmerzen,
wenn sie sich nur an Rach und Haß erfreun.
Gerechter Gott, was magst du doch gedenken,
wenn sie allein mit rechten Satansränken
dein scharfes Strafgebot so frech verlacht.
Ach! ohne Zweifel hast du so gedacht:
wie jammern mich doch die verkehrten Herzen!

How I do lament these depraved hearts
which are so hostile toward you, my God;
I verily tremble and suffer a thousand-fold pain
when they revel only in vengeance and hatred.
Righteous God, what indeed must you think
when they by truly satanic scheming alone
so boldly laugh in defiance of your chastisement.
Alas! no doubt you have already noticed:
how I do lament the depraved hearts!

4. REZITATIV (Alt)

Wer sollte sich demnach
wohl hier zu leben wünschen,
wenn man nur Haß und Ungemach
vor seine Liebe sieht?
Doch, weil ich auch den Feind
wie meinen besten Freund
nach Gottes Vorschrift lieben soll,
so flieht mein Herze Zorn und Groll
und wünscht allein bei Gott zu leben,
der selbst die Liebe heißt.
Ach, eintrachtvoller Geist,
wenn wird er dir doch nur sein Himmelszion geben?

Who then accordingly
would ever truly wish to reside here
where one observes only hatred and adversity
in response to his love?
Yet, since I also am to love my enemy
as my best friend
according to God’s commandment,
thus flee from my heart any wrath or rancor
and desire only to live next to God
who is love itself.
Oh, (my) spirit of concord,
when will he finally grant you his Zion of heaven?

5. ARIA (Alt)

Mir ekelt mehr zu leben,
drum nimm mich, Jesu, hin!
Mir graut vor allen Sünden,
laß mich dies Wohnhaus finden,
wo selbst ich ruhig bin.

I am dismayed to live any longer,
thus take me in, Jesus!
I am horrified by all this sin,
let me find that dwelling place
where I myself may be at peace.



*An Aramaic term of contempt, “Raca!” (Racha ) means “you fool!' from Matthew 5:22.

COMPOSED: July 28, 1726 (Leipzig) for the 6th Sunday after Trinity
LIBRETTIST: Georg Christian Lehms (1711)
TRANSLATION: 2024 © Tobin Schmuck, NYC
Print by permission only, please. Click here.

Cantata BWV 170: Vergnügte Ruh', beliebte Seelenlust for 6th Sunday after Trinity (1726)
Discography: Details | Complete Recordings: 1900-1949 | 1950-1959 | 1960-1969 | 1970-1979 | 1980-1989 | 1990-1999 | 2000-2009 | 2010-2019 | 2020-2029 | Recordings of Individual Movements
Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

BWV 170 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 | Dutch-0 | Dutch-1 | Dutch-6 | Dutch-7 | French-3 | French-4 | French-5 | French-6 | Hebrew-1 | Hebrew-2 | Hebrew-3 | Hebrew-4 | Hebrew-5 | Hebrew-6 | Hungarian-1 | Indonesian-1 | Italian-5 | Norwegian-1 | Polish-1 | Russian-1 | Russian-3 | Spanish-2 | Spanish-3 | Spanish-7 | Spanish/English-8

English Translations (English-10): Index by BWV Number | Index by Title | Index 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: Sunday, September 08, 2024 13:23