Event: Chorale Cantata for the 19^th Sunday after Trinity
Readings: Epistle: Ephesians 4: 22-28; Gospel: Matthew 9: 1-8
Text: Romans 7: 24 (Mvt. 1); Martin Rutilius (Mvt. 3); Anon (Mvts. 2, 4-7)
Chorale Texts: Ach Gott und Herr | Herr Jesu Christ, ich schrei zu dir

1

Chorus [S, A, T, B]

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

Ich elender Mensch, wer wird mich erlösen vom Leibe dieses Todes?
Miserable man that I am, who will free me from the body of this death?

2

Recitative [Alto]

Violino I/II, Viola, Continuo

O Schmerz, o Elend, so mich trifft,
O pain, O misery, that strikes me,
Indem der Sünden Gift
while the poison of sin
Bei mir in Brust und Adern wütet:
rages in my breast and veins:
Die Welt wird mir ein Siech- und Sterbehaus,
the world becomes for me a house of sickness and death,
Der Leib muß seine Plagen
Bis zu dem Grabe mit sich tragen.
the body must bear its troubles
with it until the grave.
Allein die Seele fühlet den stärksten Gift,
Only the soul feels the strongest poison,
Damit sie angestecket;
with which it is infected;
Drum, wenn der Schmerz den Leib des Todes trifft,
therefore, when pain strikes the mortal body,
Wenn ihr der Kreuzkelch bitter schmecket,
when the soul tastes the bitterness of the chalice of the cross,
So treibt er ihr ein brünstig Seufzen aus.
this drives the soul to utter a burning sigh.

3

Chorale [S, A, T, B]

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

Solls ja so sein,
If it must indeed be so,
Daß Straf und Pein
that punishment and pain
Auf Sünde folgen müssen,
must follow upon sin,
So fahr hie fort
then here continue [to treat me in this way]
Und schone dort
and there take care of me
Und laß mich hie wohl büßen.
and let me here do penance.

4

Aria [Alto]

Oboe solo, Continuo

Ach, lege das Sodom der sündlichen Glieder,
Ah, may Sodom with its sinful members,
Wofern es dein Wille, zerstöret darnieder!
so far as it is your will, lie levelled and destroyed!
Nur schone der Seele und mache sie rein,
But take care of my soul and make it pure,
Um vor dir ein heiliges Zion zu sein.
so that it may be a holy Zion before you.

5

Recitative [Tenor]

Continuo

Hier aber tut des Heilands Hand
But here the Saviour's hand
Auch unter denen Toten Wunder.
does wonders even among the dead.
Scheint deine Seele gleich erstorben,
Although your soul appears to be dead,
Der Leib geschwächt und ganz verdorben,
your body weakened and quite ruined,
Doch wird uns Jesu Kraft bekannt:
yet Jesus' power will be revealed to us:
Er weiß im geistlich Schwachen
for us who are weak in spirit he knows how to
Den Leib gesund, die Seele stark zu machen.
make the body healthy, the soul strong.

6

Aria [Tenor]

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

Vergibt mir Jesus meine Sünden,
If Jesus forgives me my sins,
So wird mir Leib und Seele gesund.
then my body and soul will become healthy.
Er kann die Toten lebend machen
He can make the dead live
Und zeigt sich kräftig in den Schwachen,
and shows himself to be mighty with those who are weak,
Er hält den längst geschloßnen Bund,
he keeps the covenant made long ago
Daß wir im Glauben Hilfe finden.
that in faith we find help.

7

Chorale [S, A, T, B]

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

Herr Jesu Christ, einiger Trost,
Lord Jesus Christ, my only comfort,
Zu dir will ich mich wenden;
I want to entrust myself to you;
Mein Herzleid ist dir wohl bewußt,
the sorrow of my heart is well known to you,
Du kannst und wirst es enden.
you can and will end it.
In deinen Willen seis gestellt,
In your will may it be arranged,
Mach's, lieber Gott, wie dir's gefällt:
do, dear God, as is pleasing to you:
Dein bleib und will ich bleiben.
I remain yours and I want to remain yours.

--

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

Cantata BWV 48: Complete Recordings | Recordings of Individual Movements | Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2
German Text | Translations: Dutch-4 | English-1 | English-3 | French-1 | French-4 | Hebrew-1 | Indonesian | Italian-2 | Russian-1 | Spanish-2
Chorale Texts: Ach Gott und Herr | Herr Jesu Christ, ich schrei zu dir

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