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Cantata BWV 47
Wer sich selbst erhöhet, der soll erniedriget werden
English Translation in Parallel Format
Cantata BWV 47 - Who exalts himself

Event: Cantata for the 17th Sunday after Trinity
Readings: Epistle: Ephesians 4: 1-6; Gospel: Luke 14: 1-11
Johann Friedrich Helbig (Mvts. 2-4); Anon (Mvt. 5)
Chorale Text: Warum betrübst du dich, mein Herz

Biblical quotations in green font, chorales in purple

 

Original German Text

 

English Translation

1

Coro

1

Chorus [S, A, T, B]

 

Oboe I/II, Violino I/II, Viola, Continuo

   
 

Wer sich selbst erhöhet,
der soll erniedriget werden,
und wer sich selbst erniedriget,
der soll erhöhet werden.

 

Who exalts himself
Will be humbled,
And who humbles himself
Will be exalted.
Luke 14:11

       

2

Aria S

2

Aria [Soprano]

 

Organo obligato, Continuo

   
 

Wer ein wahrer Christ will heißen,
Muß der Demut sich befleißen;
Demut stammt aus Jesu Reich.
Hoffart ist dem Teufel gleich;
Gott pflegt alle die zu hassen,
So den Stolz nicht fahrenlassen.

 

Whoever wants to be called a true Christian
Must be concerned with humility;

Humility comes from Jesus's kingdom.
Haughtiness is like the devil;
God is accustomed to hate all those
Who do not abandon arrogance.

       

3

Recitativo B

3

Recitative [Bass]

 

Violino I/II, Viola, Continuo

   
 

Der Mensch ist Kot, Stank, Asch und Erde;
Ist's möglich, dass vom Übermut,
Als einer Teufelsbrut,
Er noch bezaubert werde ?
Ach Jesus, Gottes Sohn,
Der Schöpfer aller Dinge,
Ward unsretwegen niedrig und geringe,
Er duldte Schmach und Hohn;
Und du, du armer Wurm, suchst dich zu brüsten?
Gehört sich das vor einen Christen?
Geh, schäme dich, du stolze Kreatur,
Tu Buß und folge Christi Spur;
Wirf dich vor Gott im Geiste gläubig nieder!
Zu seiner Zeit erhöht er dich auch wieder.

 

Man is filth, dust,[or stench] ash and earth;
Is it possible that from overweening pride
As one of the Devil's brood
He is still deluded?
Ah Jesus , son of God
Creator of everything
For our sake became humble and insignificant,
He endured disgrace and mockery;
And you poor worm, do you try to boast about yourself?
Is this how a Christian should behave?
Go and be ashamed of yourself, you arrogant creature,
Feel repentance and follow in Christ's footsteps
Throw yourself down before God in faith!
In his own time he will raise you up again.

       

4

Aria B

4

Aria [Bass]

 

Oboe, Violino, Continuo

   
 

Jesu, beuge doch mein Herze
Unter deine starke Hand,
Dass ich nicht mein Heil verscherze
Wie der erste Höllenbrand.
Laß mich deine Demut suchen
Und den Hochmut ganz verfluchen;
Gib mir einen niedern Sinn,
Dass ich dir gefällig bin!

 

Jesus, bend therefore my heart
Beneath your strong hand,
So that I do not forfeit my salvation
As the first fire of hell
Let me seek your humility
And curse arrogance completely;
Give me a humble mind
So that I may be pleasing to you!

       

5

Choral

5

Chorale [S, A, T, B]

 

Oboe I/II e Violino I col Soprano, Violino II coll'Alto, Viola col Tenore, Continuo

 

Der zeitlichen Ehrn will ich gern entbehrn,
Du wollst mir nur das Ewge gewährn,
Das du erworben hast
Durch deinen herben, bittern Tod.
Das bitt ich dich, mein Herr und Gott.

 

Worldly honour I shall do without completely,
If You will only grant me what is eternal
That you have won
Through your harsh bitter death
I ask you for this, my Lord and my God.

       

This Translation in Interlinear Format

English Translation by Francis Browne (December 2007)

Contributed by Francis Browne (December 2007)

Cantata BWV 47: Wer sichselbst erhöhet, der soll erniedriget werden for 17th Sunday after Trinity (1726)
Discography: Details & Complete Recordings | Recordings of Individual Movements
Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

BWV 47 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 | Danish-1 | Dutch-0 | Dutch-3 | French-1 | French-4 | French-5 | French-6 | Hebrew-1 | Hungarian-2 | Indonesian-1 | Italian-2 | Italian-4 | Japanese-6 | Norwegian-1 | Polish-1 | Russian-1 | Russian-3 | Spanish-4 | Spanish-7 | Spanish/English-8
Chorale Text: Warum betrübst du dich, mein Herz [BWV 47/5]

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 14:25