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Cantata BWV 179
Siehe zu, daß deine Gottesfurcht nicht Heuchelei sei
English Translation in Parallel Format
Cantata BWV 179 - See that your fear of God is not hypocrisy

Event: Cantata for the 11th Sunday after Trinity
Readings: Epistle: 1 Corinthians 15: 1-10; Gospel: Luke 18: 9-14
Text: Ecclesiasticus 1: 28 (Mvt. 1); Christoph Tietze (Mvt. 6); Anon (Mvts. 2-5). (According to W. Murray Young the librettist is Christian Weiss, Sr.)
Chorale Text: Ich armer Mensch, ich armer Sünder

Biblical quotations in green font, chorales in purple

 

Original German Text

 

English Translation

1

Coro

1

Chorus [S, A, T, B]

 

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

 

Siehe zu, dass deine Gottesfurcht nicht Heuchelei sei,
und diene Gott nicht mit falschem Herzen!

 

See that your fear of God is not hypocrisy
and do not serve god with a false heart!
(Ecclesiasticus 1:28)

       

2

Recitativo T

2

Recitative [Tenor]

 

Continuo

   
 

Das heutge Christentum
Ist leider schlecht bestellt:
Die meisten Christen in der Welt
Sind laulichte Laodicäer
Und aufgeblasne Pharisäer,
Die sich von außen fromm bezeigen
Und wie ein Schilf den Kopf zur Erde beugen,
Im Herzen aber steckt ein stolzer Eigenruhm;
Sie gehen zwar in Gottes Haus
Und tun daselbst die äußerlichen Pflichten,
Macht aber dies wohl einen Christen aus?
Nein, Heuchler könnens auch verrichten.

 

Christianity today
is in a bad way:

most Christians in the world
are lukewarm Laodiceans
and puffed up Pharisees
who make an outward show of being pious
and like a reed bow their heads to earth
but in their hearts stands fixed an arrogant self-glory;
they do indeed go to God’s house
and do there external duties,
but does that really make them Christian?

No, hypocrites also can perform as much.

       

3

Aria T

3

Aria [Tenor]

 

Oboe I/II e Violino I all' unisono, Violino II, Viola, Continuo

   
 

Falscher Heuchler Ebenbild
Können Sodomsäpfel heißen,
Die mit Unflat angefüllt
Und von außen herrlich gleißen.
Heuchler, die von außen schön,
Können nicht vor Gott bestehn.

 

The appearance of false hypocrites
can be called Sodom’s apples
that are filled with filth
and from outside glisten splendidly.
Hypocrites, who are outwardly fine,

cannot stand before God.

       

4

Recitativo B

4

Recitative [Bass]

 

Continuo

   
 

Wer so von innen wie von außen ist,
Der heißt ein wahrer Christ.
So war der Zöllner in dem Tempel,
Der schlug in Demut an die Brust,
Er legte sich nicht selbst ein heilig Wesen bei;
Und diesen stelle dir,
O Mensch, zum rühmlichen Exempel
In deiner Buße für;
Bist du kein Räuber, Ehebrecher,
Kein ungerechter Ehrenschwächer,
Ach bilde dir doch ja nicht ein,
Du seist deswegen engelrein!
Bekenne Gott in Demut deine Sünden,
So kannst du Gnad und Hilfe finden!

 

The person who is the same within as without
is called a true Christian.
Such was the tax-collector in the temple
who struck his breast in humility,
he did not assume he was a holy being;
and make this person,
o mankind, a praiseworthy example for you
in your repentance.
Even if you are no thief or adulterer
no unjust breaker of oaths,
ah do not then imagine
that for this reason you are as pure as an angel!
Humbly acknowledge your sins to God,
then you can find grace and help.

       

5

Aria S

5

Aria [Soprano]

 

Oboe da caccia I/II, Continuo

   
 

Liebster Gott, erbarme dich,
Laß mir Trost und Gnad erscheinen!
Meine Sünden kränken mich
Als ein Eiter in Gebeinen,
Hilf mir, Jesu, Gottes Lamm,
Ich versink im tiefen Schlamm!

 

Dearest God, be merciful.
Let your comfort and grace appear to me
My sins sicken me
like an abcess in my bones
Help me, Jesus, lamb of God,
I am sinking in deep mire.

       

6

Choral

6

Chorale [S, A, T, B]

 

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

 

Ich armer Mensch, ich armer Sünder
Steh hier vor Gottes Angesicht.
Ach Gott, ach Gott, verfahr gelinder
Und geh nicht mit mir ins Gericht!
Erbarme dich, erbarme dich,
Gott, mein Erbarmer, über mich!

 

I, poor man, I, poor sinner,
stand here before God’s face.
Ah God, ah God, deal gently with me
and do not bring me to judgement!
Be merciful, be merciful
my merciful God, to me!

       

This Translation in Interlinear Format

English Translation by Francis Browne (September 2005)

Contributed by Francis Browne (September 2005)

Cantata BWV 179: Siehe zu, daß deine Gottesfurcht nicht Heuchelei sei for 11th Sunday after Trinity (1723)
Discography: Details & Complete Recordings | Recordings of Individual Movements
Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

BWV 179 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-8 | French-4 | French-5 | French-6 | Hebrew-1 | Indonesian-1 | Italian-2 | Norwegian-1 | Polish-1 | Polish-2 | Russian-1 | Russian-3 | Spanish-2 | Spanish-3 | Spanish-7 | Spanish/English-8
Chorale Text: Ich armer Mensch, ich armer Sünder [BWV 179/6]

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