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Cantata BWV 24
Ein ungefärbt Gemüte
English Translation in Parallel 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

 

Original German Text

 

English Translation

1

Aria A

1

Aria [Alto]

 

Violino I/II e Viola all' unisono, Continuo

 
 

Ein ungefärbt Gemüte
Von deutscher Treu und Güte
Macht uns vor Gott und Menschen schön.
Der Christen Tun und Handel,
Ihr ganzer Lebenswandel
Soll auf dergleichen Fuße stehn.

 

An unstained character
with German faithfulness and goodness
makes us beautiful before God and man.
The actions and business of Christians,
their whole way of life

should be based on this sort of footing.

       

2

Recitativo T

2

Recitative [Tenor]

 

Continuo

 
 

Die Redlichkeit
Ist eine von den Gottesgaben.
Dass sie bei unsrer Zeit
So wenig Menschen haben,
Das macht, sie bitten Gott nicht drum.
Denn von Natur geht unsers Herzens Dichten
Mit lauter Bösem um;
Soll's seinen Weg auf etwas Gutes richten,
So muss es Gott durch seinen Geist regieren
Und auf der Bahn der Tugend führen.
Verlangst du Gott zum Freunde,
So mache dir den Nächsten nicht zum Feinde
Durch Falschheit, Trug und List!
Ein Christ
Soll sich der Taubenart bestreben
Und ohne Falsch und Tücke leben.
Mach aus dir selbst ein solches Bild,
Wie du den Nächsten haben willt!

 

Honesty
is one of God's gifts.
The fact that in our time

so few people have it
is because they do not ask God for this.
For by nature what our hearts contrive

is nothing but evil;
if our heart is to direct its way to something good,
then God has to rule it through his spirit

And lead it on a path of virtue.
If you long for God as your friend

then don't make an enemy of your neighbour
Through falsehood, deceit and cunning!
A Christian

should strive to have the nature of a dove
And live without falsehood and malice.
Make yourself such an image

As you want your neighbour to have!

       

3

Coro

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.

 

Everything now, that you want that other people do to you you, you should do yourself for them. (Matthew 7:12)

       

4

Recitativo B

4

Recitative [Bass]

 

Violino I/II, Viola, Continuo

 
 

Die Heuchelei
Ist eine Brut, die Belial gehecket.
Wer sich in ihre Larve stecket,
Der trägt des Teufels Liberei.
Wie? lassen sich denn Christen
Dergleichen auch gelüsten?
Gott sei's geklagt! die Redlichkeit ist teuer.
Manch teuflisch Ungeheuer
Sieht wie ein Engel aus.
Man kehrt den Wolf hinein,
Den Schafspelz kehrt man raus.
Wie könnt es ärger sein?
Verleumden, Schmähn und Richten,
Verdammen und Vernichten
Ist überall gemein.
So geht es dort, so geht es hier.
Der liebe Gott behüte mich dafür!

 

Hypocrisy
is a brood concocted by Belial.
Anyone who puts on hypocrisy's mask

is wearing the Devil's livery.
I ask you, should Christians allow themselves

To hanker after such things also?
Alas!honesty costs dear.
Many a devilish monster

Seems to be an angel.
they keep the wolf hidden inside

While the sheep's fleece is turned outside.
How could it be worse?
Slander, abuse and condemnation,
damnation and destruction

Are common everywhere.
These things go on here, there and everywhere.
Dear God preserve me from them!

       

5

Aria T

5

Aria [Tenor]

 

Oboe d'amore I/II, Continuo

 
 

Treu und Wahrheit sei der Grund
Aller deiner Sinnen,
Wie von außen Wort und Mund,
Sei das Herz von innen.
Gütig sein und tugendreich
Macht uns Gott und Engeln gleich.

 

May faithfulness and truth be the foundation
of every thought of yours,
as your words and mouth on the outside

so may your heart be inside.
To be full of kindness and rich in virtue

Makes us like God and his angels.

       

6

Choral

6

Chorale [S, A, T, B]

 

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

 
 

O Gott, du frommer Gott,
Du Brunnquell aller Gaben,
Ohn den nichts ist, was ist,
Von dem wir alles haben,
Gesunden Leib gib mir,
Und dass in solchem Leib
Ein unverletzte Seel
Und rein Gewissen bleib.

 

O God, you righteous God
you source of all gifts,
without whom nothing is that is

from whom we have everything,
grant to me a healthy body,
and that in such a body

there may remain a soul uninjured
And a pure conscience.

       

This Translation in Interlinear 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