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Cantata BWV 24
Ein ungefärbt Gemüte
English Translation in Interlinear Format
Cantata BWV 24 - An unstained character

Event: Cantata for the 4th Sunday after Trinity
Readings: Epistle: Romans 8: 18-23; Gospel: Luke 6: 36-42
Text: Erdmann Neumeister (Mvt. 1, 2, 4, 5); Matthew 7: 12 (Mvt. 3); Johann Heermann (Mvt. 6)
Chorale Text:
O Gott, du frommer Gott

Biblical quotations in green font, chorales in purple

1

Aria [Alto]

Violino I/II e Viola all' unisono, Continuo

Ein ungefärbt Gemüte
An unstained character
Von deutscher Treu und Güte
with German faithfulness and goodness
Macht uns vor Gott und Menschen schön.
makes us beautiful before God and man.
Der Christen Tun und Handel,
The actions and business of Christians,
Ihr ganzer Lebenswandel
their whole way of life
Soll auf dergleichen Fuße stehn.
should be based on this sort of footing.

2

Recitative [Tenor]

Continuo

Die Redlichkeit
Honesty
Ist eine von den Gottesgaben.
is one of God's gifts.
Dass sie bei unsrer Zeit
The fact that in our time
So wenig Menschen haben,
so few people have it
Das macht, sie bitten Gott nicht drum.
is because they do not ask God for this.
Denn von Natur geht unsers Herzens Dichten
For by nature what our hearts contrive
Mit lauter Bösem um;
is nothing but evil;
Soll's seinen Weg auf etwas Gutes richten,
if our heart is to direct its way to something good,
So muss es Gott durch seinen Geist regieren
then God has to rule it through his spirit
Und auf der Bahn der Tugend führen.
And lead it on a path of virtue.
Verlangst du Gott zum Freunde,
If you long for God as your friend
So mache dir den Nächsten nicht zum Feinde
then don't make an enemy of your neighbour
Durch Falschheit, Trug und List!
Through falsehood, deceit and cunning!
Ein Christ
A Christian
Soll sich der Taubenart bestreben
should strive to have the nature of a dove
Und ohne Falsch und Tücke leben.
And live without falsehood and malice.
Mach aus dir selbst ein solches Bild,
Make yourself such an image
Wie du den Nächsten haben willt!
As you want your neighbour to have!

3

Chorus [S, A, T, B]

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

Alles nun, das ihr wollet, dass euch die Leute tun sollen, das tut ihr ihnen. (Matthew 7:12)
Everything now, that you want that other people do to you you, you should do yourself for them.

4

Recitative [Bass]

Violino I/II, Viola, Continuo

Die Heuchelei
Hypocrisy
Ist eine Brut, die Belial gehecket.
is a brood concocted by Belial.
Wer sich in ihre Larve stecket,
Anyone who puts on hypocrisy's mask
Der trägt des Teufels Liberei.
is wearing the Devil's livery.
Wie? lassen sich denn Christen
I ask you, should Christians allow themselves
Dergleichen auch gelüsten?
To hanker after such things also?
Gott sei's geklagt! die Redlichkeit ist teuer.
Alas!honesty costs dear.
Manch teuflisch Ungeheuer
Many a devilish monster
Sieht wie ein Engel aus.
Seems to be an angel.
Man kehrt den Wolf hinein,
they keep the wolf hidden inside
Den Schafspelz kehrt man raus.
While the sheep's fleece is turned outside.
Wie könnt es ärger sein?
How could it be worse?
Verleumden, Schmähn und Richten,
Slander, abuse and condemnation,
Verdammen und Vernichten
damnation and destruction
Ist
überall gemein.
Are common everywhere.
So geht es dort, so geht es hier.
These things go on here, there and everywhere.
Der liebe Gott behüte mich dafür!
Dear God preserve me from them!

5

Aria [Tenor]

Oboe d'amore I/II, Continuo

Treu und Wahrheit sei der Grund
May faithfulness and truth be the foundation
Aller deiner Sinnen,
of every thought of yours,
Wie von außen Wort und Mund,
as your words and mouth on the outside
Sei das Herz von innen.
so may your heart be inside.
Gütig sein und tugendreich
To be full of kindness and rich in virtue
Macht uns Gott und Engeln gleich.
Makes us like God and his angels.

6

Chorale [S, A, T, B]

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

O Gott, du frommer Gott,
O God, you righteous God
Du Brunnquell aller Gaben,
you source of all gifts,
Ohn den nichts ist, was ist,
without whom nothing is that is
Von dem wir alles haben,
from whom we have everything,
Gesunden Leib gib mir,
grant to me a healthy body,
Und dass in solchem Leib
and that in such a body
Ein unverletzte Seel
there may remain a soul uninjured
Und rein Gewissen bleib.
And a pure conscience.

--

This Translation in Parallel Format

English Translation by Francis Browne (July 2008)
Contributed by Francis Browne (July 2008)

Cantata BWV 24: Ein ungefärbt Gemüte for 4th Sunday after Trinity (1723)
Discography: Details & Complete Recordings | Recordings of Individual Movements
Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

BWV 24 Text: German-1 | German-6 | German-7 | NBA Text
Translations: English-1 | English-3I | English-3P | English-6 | English-10 | English-13 | English-14
Catalan-1 | Chinese-2 | Dutch-0 | Dutch-6 | French-1 | French-3 | French-4 | French-5 | French-6 | Hebrew-1 | Indonesian-1 | Italian-2 | Italian-4 | Norwegian-1 | Polish-1 | Polish-2 | Russian-1 | Russian-3 | Spanish-2 | Spanish-7 | Spanish/English-8
Chorale Text: O Gott, du frommer Gott [BWV 24/6]

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 14:24