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Cantata BWV 21
Ich hatte viel Bekümmernis
English Translation in Interlinear Format
Cantata BWV 21 - I had much affliction

Event 1: Cantata for the 3rd Sunday after Trinity
Readings: Epistle: 1 Peter 5: 6-11; Gospel: Luke 15: 1-10
Event 2: For any time / ’Per ogni tempo’. Probably a Farewell Cantata for Johann Ernst von Sachsen-Weimar
Text: Salomo Franck ? (Mvts. 3-5, 7, 8, 10); Psalm 94: 19 (Mvt. 2); Psalm 42: 5 (Mvt. 6); Psalm 116: 7 (Mvt. 9); Georg Neumark (Mvt. 9); Revelation 5: 12-13 (Mvt. 11)
Chorale Text: Wer nur den lieben Gott läßt walten

Biblical quotations in green font, chorales in purple

First Part

1

Sinfonia

Oboe, Violino I/II, Viola, Fagotto e Organo e Continuo

2

Chorus [S, A, T, B]

Oboe, Violino I/II, Viola, Fagotto e Organo e Continuo

Ich hatte viel Bekümmernis in meinem Herzen;
I had much affliction in my heart,
aber deine Tröstungen erquicken meine Seele.
but your consolations restore my soul.

3

Aria [Soprano]

Oboe, Organo e Continuo

Seufzer, Tränen, Kummer, Not,
Sighs, tears, grief, distress
Ängstlichs Sehnen, Furcht und Tod
anxious longing, fear and death
Nagen mein beklemmtes Herz,
gnaw at/prey upon my oppressed heart
Ich empfinde Jammer, Schmerz.
I feel misery, pain.

4

Recitative [Tenor]

Violino I/II, Viola, Fagotto e Organo e Continuo

Wie hast du dich, mein Gott,
Why have you, my God,
In meiner Not,
in my distress
In meiner Furcht und Zagen
in my fear and trepidation
Denn ganz von mir gewandt?
quite turned away from me?
Ach! kennst du nicht dein Kind?
Ah! do you not know your child?
Ach! hörst du nicht das Klagen
Ah! do you not hear the lamentation
Von denen, die dir sind
of those who are to you
Mit Bund und Treu verwandt?
related by covenant and faith?
Du warest meine Lust
You were my joy
Und bist mir grausam worden;
and have become cruel to me
Ich suche dich an allen Orten,
I look for you in all places
Ich ruf und schrei dir nach,
I call and cry out to you,
Allein mein Weh und Ach!
only my 'woe and alas!'
Scheint itzt, als sei es dir ganz unbewußt.
seem now to be quite unnoticed by you.

5

Aria [Tenor]

Violino I/II, Viola, Fagotto e Organo e Continuo

Bäche von gesalznen Zähren,
Streams of salty tears,
Fluten rauschen stets einher.
floods rush always along.
Sturm und Wellen mich versehren,
Storm and waves harm me
Und dies trübsalsvolle Meer
and this sea full of sorrows
Will mir Geist und Leben schwächen,
wants to weaken my spirit and life.
Mast und Anker wollen brechen,
Mast and anchor are about to break,
Hier versink ich in den Grund,
Here I sink into the ground,
Dort seh ins der Hölle Schlund.
there I look into the abyss of Hell.

6

Chorus [S, A, T, B]

Oboe, Violino I/II, Viola, Fagotto e Organo e Continuo

Was betrübst du dich, meine Seele,
Why are you distressed, my soul,
und bist so unruhig in mir?
and are so restless in me?
Harre auf Gott; denn ich werde ihm noch danken,
Wait on God; for I shall yet thank him
daß er meines Angesichtes Hilfe und mein Gott ist.
that I shall see him as my help and my God.

Second Part

7

Recitative (Dialogue) [Soprano (Soul), Bass (Jesus)]

Violino I/II, Viola, Fagotto e Organo e Continuo

Soprano (Soul):
Ach Jesu, meine Ruh,
Ah Jesus, my inner peace,
Mein Licht, wo bleibest du?
my light, where do you stay?

Bass (Jesus):
O Seele sieh! Ich bin bei dir.
Oh soul,see! I am with you.

Soprano (Soul):
Bei mir?
With me ?
Hier ist ja lauter Nacht.
Here is only night.

Bass (Jesus):
Ich bin dein treuer Freund,
I am your faithful friend
Der auch im Dunkeln wacht,
who watches also in darkness
Wo lauter Schalken seind.
where only rogues are.

Soprano (Soul):
Brich doch mit deinem Glanz und Licht des Trostes ein.
Break through then with your splendour and light of comfort.

Bass (Jesus):
Die Stunde kömmet schon,
The hour comes already,
Da deines Kampfes Kron'
since the crown of your struggle
Dir wird ein süßes Labsal sein.
will be a sweet refreshment for you.

8

Aria (Duet) [Soprano (Soul), Bass (Jesus)]

Organo e Continuo

Soprano (Soul):

Bass (Jesus):

Komm, mein Jesu, und erquicke,

Ja, ich komme und erquicke

Come, my Jesus, and restore

Yes, I come and restore

Und erfreu mit deinem Blicke.

Dich mit meinem Gnadenblicker,

and rejoice with your look

you with my look of grace

Diese Seele,

Deine Seele,

This soul

Your soul

Die soll sterben,

Die soll leben,

that must die

that must live

Und nicht leben

Und nicht sterben

and not live

and not die

Und in ihrer Unglückshöhle

Hier aus dieser wunden Höhle

and in its den of misfortune

here from this den of wounds

Ganz verderben.

Sollst du erben

wholly perish.

you shall be given

Ich muß stets in Kummer schweben,

Heil! durch diesen Saft der Reben,

I must always be suspended in misery

Salvation! throught this juice of the grape

Ja, ach ja, ich bin verloren!

Nein, ach nein, du bist erkoren!

Yes, oh, yes, I am lost

No,oh, no, you are chosen

Nein, ach nein, du hassest mich!

Ja, ach ja, ich liebe dich!

No, ah, no, you hate me!

Yes, oh, yes,I love you!

Ach, Jesu, durchsüße mir Seele und Herze,

Entweichet, ihr Sorgen, verschwinde, du Schmerze!

Jesus, sweeten my soul and heart.

Give way, worries, vanish, pain!

Komm, mein Jesus, und erquicke

Ja, ich komme und erquicke

Come, Jesus, and restore

Yes, I come and restore

Mit deinem Gnadenblicke!

Dich mit meinem Gnadenblicke

with your look of grace

you with my look of grace.

9

Chorus [S, A, T, B]

Oboe e Violino I e Trombone I all' unisono, Violino II e Trombone II all' unisono, Viola e Trombone III all' unisono, Fagotto e Trombone IV all' unisono, Organo e Continuo

Sei nun wieder zufrieden, meine Seele, denn der Herr tut dir Guts
Be satisfied again now, my soul, for the Lord does good to you.

Tenor:
Was helfen uns die schweren Sorgen,
What help to us are heavy sorrows
Was hilft uns unser Weh und Ach?
What help to us are our 'woe' and 'alas'?
Was hilft es, daß wir alle Morgen
What does it help, that we every morning
Beseufzen unser Ungemach?
sigh over our troubles?
Wir machen unser Kreuz und Leid
We make our cross and suffering
Nur größer durch die Traurigkeit.
only greater through sadness.

Soprano:
Denk nicht in deiner Drangsalshitze,
Do not think in the heat of your distress
Daß du von Gott verlassen seist,
that you have been abandoned by God
Und daß Gott der im Schoße sitze,
and that that man sits in God's bosom
Der sich mit stetem Glücke speist.
who always feeds on good fortune.
Die folgend Zeit verändert viel
The course of time changes many things
Und setzet jeglichem sein Ziel.
and appoints his end to everything.

10

Aria [Tenor]

Organo e Continuo

Erfreue dich, Seele, erfreue dich, Herze,
Rejoice, my soul, rejoice, my heart,
Entweiche nun, Kummer, verschwinde, du Schmerze!
Give way, cares, vanish, pain!
Verwandle dich, Weinen, in lauteren Wein,
Change,weeping and whining, into pure wine
Es wird nun mein Ächzen ein Jauchzen mir sein!
Now my lamentation will become exaltation!
Es brennet und sammet die reineste Kerze
Now there burns and flames the purest candle
Der Liebe, des Trostes in Seele und Brust,
of love and consolation in my soul and breast
Weil Jesus mich tröstet mit himmlischer Lust.
since Jesus consoles me with heavenly joy.

11

Chorus [S, A, T, B]

Tromba I-III, Timpani, Oboe, Violino I/II, Viola, Fagotto e Organo e Continuo

Das Lamm, das erwürget ist, ist würdig zu nehmen
The lamb that was slain is worthy to receive
Kraft und Reichtum und Weisheit und Stärke und Ehre und Preis und Lob.
power and riches and wisdom and strength and honour and praise and glory.
Lob und Ehre und Preis und Gewalt sei unserm Gott von Ewigkeit zu Ewigkeit. Amen, Alleluja!
Glory and honour and praise and power be to our God for ever and ever. Amen. Alleluia!

--

This Translation in Parallel Format

English Translation by Francis Browne (April 2002)
Contributed by Francis Browne (April 2002)

Cantata BWV 21: Ich hatte viel Bekümmernis for 3rd Sunday after Trinity / for any time (1714)
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Recordings of Individual Movements: 1900-1949 | 1950-1959 | 1960-1969 | 1970-1979 | 1980-1989 | 1990-1999 | 2000-2009 | 2010-2019 | 2020-2029
Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7

BWV 21 Text: German-1 | German-2 | German-6 (1) | German-6 (2) | German-6 (3) | German-7 (1) | German-7 (2) | German-7 (3) | NBA Text
Translations: English-1 | English-2 | English-3I | English-3P | English-5 | English-6 | English-7 | English-7 | English-10 | English-13 | English-14
Catalan-1 | Chinese-2 | Dutch-0 | Dutch-1 | Dutch-3 | French-1 | French-3 | French-4 | French-5 | French-6 | Hebrew-1 | Hebrew-2 | Hebrew-3 | Hebrew-4 | Hungarian-1 | Indonesian-1 | Italian-1 | Italian-6 | Japanese-6 | Norwegian-1 | Polish-1 | Polish-2 | Portuguese-2 | Russian-1 | Russian-3 | Spanish-2 | Spanish-7 | Spanish/English-8
Chorale Text: Wer nur den lieben Gott läßt walten [BWV 21/9]

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 14:24