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Text for Cantata 186a (score lost)
Ärgre dich, o Seele, nicht, II

Original German Text

English Translation

1. Chorus

Ärg're dich o Seele, nicht,
daß das allerhöchste Licht,
Gottes Glantz und Ebenbild,
sich in Knechts-Gestalt verhüllt.
Ärgre dich, o Seele, nicht!

Be not concerned, O soul,
that the supreme light,
Gods brilliance and likeness
is disguised in the form of a servant,
be not concerned, O soul!

2. Aria 1

Bist du, der da kommen soll,
Seelen-Freund, in Kirchen-Garten?
Mein Gemüt ist Zweifels-voll,
soll ich eines andern warten!
Doch, o Seele, zweifle nicht.
Laß Vernunft dich nicht verstricken,
deinen Schilo, Jacobs Licht,
kannst du in der Schrift erblicken!

Are you he who here shall come,
soul’s friend, into the church’s garden?
My mind is full of doubt,
should I await someone else!
Yet, O soul, do not doubt.
Let reason not entangle you;
your helper, the light of Jacob
is visible in the scriptures!

3. Aria 2

Messias läßt sich merken
aus seinen Gnaden-Werken,
unreine werden rein.
Die geistlich Lahme gehen,
die geistlich Blinde sehen
den hellen Gnaden Schein.

The Messiah makes apparent
from his works of grace
that the unclean will be clean.
The spiritually lame will walk,
the spiritually blind will see
the bright shining of grace.

4. Aria. 3

Die Armen will der Herr umarmen
mit Gnaden hier und dort!
Er schenket ihnen aus Erbarmen
den höchsten Schatz, des Lebens Wort!

The Lord will embrace the poor
with grace, both here and away!
He bestows on them, out of mercy,
the highest treasure, the word of life!

5. Aria 4

Laß, Seele, kein Leiden,
von Jesu dich scheiden,
sei Seele getreu!
Dir bleibet die Krone
aus Gnaden zu Lohne
wenn du von Banden des Leibes nun frei.

Allow, soul, no affliction
to separate you from Jesus,
be, soul, faithful!
The crown lies in store for you
from grace, as reward
as you are freed from your bodily bonds.

6. Choral

Darum ob ich schon dulde
hie Wiederwärtigkeit,
wie ich auch wohl verschulde,
kommt doch die Ewigkeit,
ist aller Freuden voll,
die ohne alles Ende,
dieweil ich Christum kenne,
mir widerfahren soll.

Therefore even if I here
endure horridness,
which indeed is from my guilt,
eternity still arrives
full of every joy
which without any ending,
as I recognize Christ,
shall then befall me.


COMPOSED: December 13, 1716 (Weimar) for the 3rd Sunday in Advent
LIBRETTIST: unknown; based on Salomo Franck, Evangelische Sonn- und Fest-Tages-Andachten (Weimar and Jena, 1717); Mvt. 6 Ludwig Hembold, stanza 8 of Von Gott will ich nicht lassen (1563)
TRANSLATION: 2017 © Tobin Schmuck, NYC
Print by permission only, please. Click here.

Cantata BWV 186a: Ärgre dich, o Seele, nicht [music lost] for 3rd Sunday in Advent (1717)
Discography: Details
Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

BWV 186a Text: German-5 | German-6
Translations: English-1 | English-6 | English-10
Dutch-0 | Dutch-7
Chorale Text: Von Gott will ich nicht lassen [BWV 186a/6]

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: Tuesday, December 12, 2023 14:10