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Text for BWV 248 IV
Weihnachts-Oratorium IV
(Christmas Oratorio, Part 4)

Original German Text

English Translation

37. CHOR

Fallt mit Danken, fallt mit Loben
vor des Höchsten Gnadenthron!
Gottes Sohn will der Erden
Heiland und Erlöser werden,
Gottes Sohn dämpft der Feinde Wut und Toben.

Bow down in thanks, bow down in praise
before the Most-High’s throne of grace!
God's Son will become
Savior and Redeemer for the earth,
God's Son stifles the foe's fury and rage.

38. REZITATIV (Tenor)

EVANGELIST
Und da acht Tage um waren,
daß das Kind beschnitten würde,
da ward sein Name genennet Jesus,
welcher genennet war von dem Engel,
ehe denn er im Mutterleibe empfangen ward.

EVANGELIST
And once eight days had passed
so that the child could be circumcised,
his name was declared Jesus,
which had been pronounced by the angel
even before he was conceived in the womb.

39. REZITATIV (Baß); CHORAL (Sopran)

BAß
Immanuel, o süßes Wort!
Mein Jesus heißt mein Hort,
mein Jesus heißt mein Leben.
Mein Jesus hat sich mir ergeben,
mein Jesus soll mir immerfort
vor meinen Augen schweben.
Mein Jesus heißet meine Lust,
mein Jesus labet Herz und Brust.

SOPRAN
Jesu, du mein liebstes Leben,

BAß
Komm! Ich will dich mit Lust umfassen,

SOPRAN
meiner Seelen Bräutigam,

BAß
mein Herze soll dich nimmer lassen,

SOPRAN
der du dich vor mich gegeben

BAß
ach! so nimm mich zu dir!

SOPRAN
an des bittern Kreuzes Stamm!

BAß
Auch in dem Sterben sollst du mir
das Allerliebste sein;
in Not, Gefahr und Ungemach
seh ich dir sehnlichst nach.
Was jagte mir zuletzt der Tod für Grauen ein?
Mein Jesus! wenn ich sterbe,
so weiß ich, daß ich nicht verderbe.
Dein Name steht in mir geschrieben,
der hat des Todes Furcht vertrieben.

BASS
Emmanuel, O sweet word!
My Jesus is named my refuge,
my Jesus is named my life.
My Jesus reveals himself to me,
my Jesus, shall henceforth
linger before my eyes.
My Jesus is named my passion,
my Jesus refreshes heart and breast.

SOPRANO
Jesus, you most beloved of my life,

BASS
Come! I will passionately embrace you,

SOPRANO
bridegroom of my soul,

BASS
my heart shall never release you,

SOPRANO
you who have presented yourself for me

BASS
ah! accept me then yourself!

SOPRANO
upon the bitter stem of the cross!

BASS
Even in death you shall be
my beloved most dear;
in agony, peril and adversity
I look to you most fervently.
Why in the end sould I be terrified of death?
My Jesus! when I die
I know that I do not perish.
Your name is inscribed upon me,
it has dispelled all fear of death.

40. ARIA (Sopran)

Flößt, mein Heiland, flößt dein Namen
auch den allerkleinsten Samen
jenes strengen Schreckens ein?
Nein, du sagst ja selber nein. (Nein!)
Sollt ich nun das Sterben scheuen?
Nein, dein süßes Wort ist da!
Oder sollt ich mich erfreuen?
Ja, du Heiland sprichst selbst ja. (Ja!)

Can, my Savior, can your name
instill even the tiniest seed
of any dire fear?
No, you yourself indeed say no. (No!)
Should I then shy from death?
No, your sweet word is there!
Instead should I rejoice?
Yes, you Savior yourself say yes. (Yes!)

41. REZITATIV (Baß); CHORAL (Sopran)

BAß
Wohlan, dein Name soll allein

SOPRAN
Jesu, meine Freud und Wonne,
meine Hoffnung, Schatz und Teil,

BAß
in meinem Herzen sein!

SOPRAN
mein Erlösung, Schutz und Heil,
Hirt und König, Licht und Sonne,

BAß
So will ich dich entzücket nennen,
wenn Brust und Herz zu dir vor Liebe brennen.
Doch, Liebster, sage mir:

SOPRAN
ach! wie soll ich würdiglich,
mein Herr Jesu, preisen dich?

BAß
Wie rühm ich dich, wie dank ich dir?

BASS
Henceforth your name alone

SOPRANO
Jesus, my joy and bliss,
my hope, treasure and portion,

BASS
shall reside in my heart!

SOPRANO
my redemption, protection and salvation,
shepherd and king, light and sun,

BASS
Thus enraptured, I name you,
with my bosom and heart blaze in love for you.
Yet, dearest, tell me:

SOPRANO
oh! how can I worthily
praise you, my Lord Jesus?

BASS
How can I extol you, how can I thank you?

42. ARIA (Tenor)

Ich will nur dir zu Ehren leben,
mein Heiland, gib mir Kraft und Mut,
daß es mein Herz recht eifrig tut!
Stärke mich,
deine Gnade würdiglich
und mit Danken zu erheben!

I want to live only to your glory,
my Savior grant me strength and courage
that my heart might act with true zeal!
Empower me
to worthily and with thanks
exalt your mercy!

43. CHORAL

Jesus richte mein Beginnen,
Jesus bleibe stets bei mir,
Jesus zäume mir die Sinnen,
Jesus sei nur mein Begier,
Jesus sei mir in Gedanken,
Jesu, lasse mich nicht wanken!

Jesus make true my beginnings,
Jesus remain ever beside me,
Jesus bridle my thoughts,
Jesus be my only desire,
Jesus be in my thoughts,
Jesus, let me not falter!


COMPOSED: January 1, 1735 (Leipzig) for New Years Day
LIBRETTIST: unknown, perhaps Christian Friedrich Henrici (Picander), Mvt. 38. Luke 2:21; Mvts. 39 & 41 Johann Rist, stanza 1 of Jesu, du mein liebstes Leben (1642); Mvt. 43. Johann Rist, stanza 15 of Hilf, Herr Jesu, laß gelingen (1642)
TRANSLATION: 2023 © Tobin Schmuck, NYC
Print by permission only, please. Click here.

Weihnachts-Oratorium BWV 248 (1734-1735): Details
Complete Recordings: 1900-1949 | 1950-1959 | 1960-1969 | 1970-1979 | 1980-1989 | 1990-1999 | 2000-2009 | 2010-2019 | 2020-2029 | Recordings of Individual Movements
General Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8
Systematic Discussions: Cantata 1 | Cantata 2 | Cantata 3 | Cantata 4 | Cantata 5 | Cantata 6 | Part 7: Summary
Individual Recordings: BWV 248 – Collegium Aureum | BWV 248 - H. Christophers | BWV 248 - J.E. Gardiner | BWV 248 - N. Harnoncourt | BWV 248 - P. Herreweghe | BWV 248 - R. Jacobs | BWV 248 - N. McGegan | BWV 248 - R. Otto | BWV 248 - K. Richter | BWV 248 - H. Rilling | BWV 248 - P. Schreier | BWV 248 - M. Suzuki | BWV 248 - K. Thomas | BWV 248 - J.v. Veldhoven
Articles: A Bottomless Bucket of Bach - Christmas Oratorio [D. Satz] | BWV 248/19 “Schlafe, mein Liebster” - A Background Study with Focus on the Colla Parte Flauto Traverso Part [T. Braatz]

BWV 248/4 Text: German-1 | NBA
Translations: English-1 | English-3I | English-3P | English-6 | English-10 | English-14
Chinese-2 | Danish-2 | Dutch-0 | Dutch-3 | French-4 | French-6 | Hebrew-1 | Hebrew-2 | Indonesian-1 | Russian-1 | Spanish-7 | Spanish/English-8
Chorale Texts: Jesu, du mein liebstes Leben [BWV 248/38,40] | Hilf, Herr Jesu, laß gelingen [BWV 248/42]

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 13:53