Event: Cantata for the Town Council Inauguration
Text: Psalm 103: 2 (Mvt. 1); Martin Luther (Mvt. 6); Anon (Mvts. 2-5) [Probaly Christian Weiss Sr., according to Young]
Chorale Text: Es woll uns Gott genädig sein

1

Chorus [S, A, T, B]

Tromba I-III, Timpani, Oboe I-III, Fagotto, Violino I/II, Viola, Continuo

Lobe den Herrn, meine Seele,
Praise the Lord, my soul,
und vergiß nicht,
and do not forget
was er dir Gutes getan hat!
what good he has done for you!

2

Recitative [Soprano]

Fagotto e Continuo

Wie groß ist Gottes Güte doch!
How great then is God's goodness!
Er bracht uns an das Licht,
He brought us to the light,
Und er erhält uns noch.
and he still upholds us.
Wo findet man nur eine Kreatur,
Where is found a single creature
Der es an Unterhalt gebricht?
who lacks support?
Betrachte doch, mein Geist,
Consider then, my spirit,
Der Allmacht unverdeckte Spur,
the trace of the Almighty that has not been hidden
Die auch im kleinen sich recht groß erweist.
which proves he is truly great even in the smallest thing.
Ach! möcht es mir, o Höchster, doch gelingen,
Ah1 might it be possible, o Highest God, for me to succeed
Ein würdig Danklied dir zu bringen!
in bringing to you a worthy song of thanks!
Doch, sollt es mir hierbei an Kräften fehlen,
Yet even if I should lack strength for this purpose,
So will ich doch, Herr, deinen Ruhm erzählen.
I still want to tell of your glory.

3

Aria [Alto]

Oboe, Violino I, Continuo

Meine Seele, Auf! erzähle,
My soul, get up! tell
Was dir Gott erwiesen hat!
what God has shown to you!
Rühme seine Wundertat,
Praise his wonderful work,
Laß, dem Höchsten zu gefallen,
to please the Highest
Ihm ein frohes Danklied schallen!
let a joyful song of thanks to him resound!

4

Recitative [Tenor]

Violino I/II, Viola, Continuo

Der Herr hat große Ding an uns getan.
The Lord has done great things with us.
Denn er versorget und erhält,
For he looks after and upholds,
Beschützet und regiert die Welt.
protects and rules the world.
Er tut mehr, als man sagen kann.
He does more than can be said.
Jedoch, nur eines zu gedenken:
Yet consider just one thing :
Was könnt uns Gott wohl Beßres schenken,
what better gift could he bestow on us
Als daß er unsrer Obrigkeit
than that to our governors he
Den Geist der Weisheit gibet,
should give the spirit of wisdom,
Die denn zu jeder Zeit
who then at all times
Das Böse straft, das Gute liebet?
punish evil, love good ?
Ja, die bei Tag und Nacht
Yes, who by day and night
Vor unsre Wohlfahrt wacht?
keep watch over our welfare?
Laßt uns dafür den Höchsten preisen;
For this reason let us praise the Highest:
Auf! ruft ihn an,
Get up! call to him
Daß er sich auch noch fernerhin so gnädig woll erweisen.
so that still also in the future he may be willing to show such mercy to us.
Was unserm Lande schaden kann,
What can harm our land,
Wirst du, o Höchster, von uns wenden
you will, o Highest, turn away from us
Und uns erwünschte Hilfe senden.
and send to us the help for which we long.
Ja, ja, du wirst in Kreuz und Nöten
Yes indeed, in suffering and distress you will
Uns züchtigen, jedoch nicht töten.
punish, but not kill us.

5

Aria [Bass]

Oboe d'amore, Violino I/II, Viola, Fagotto, Continuo

Mein Erlöser und Erhalter,
My redeemer and preserver,
Nimm mich stets in Hut und Wacht!
keep me always in your care and protection!
Steh mir bei in Kreuz und Leiden,
Stand by me in suffering and sorrow,
Alsdenn singt mein Mund mit Freuden:
then my mouth sings with joy:
Gott hat alles wohlgemacht.
God has done all things well.

6

Chorale [S, A, T, B]

Oboe I-III e Violino I col Soprano, Violino II coll'Alto, Viola col Tenore, Tromba I-III, Timpani, Fagotto, Continuo

Es danke, Gott, und lobe dich
Das Volk in guten Taten.
May the people thank and praise you,
God, in their good deeds.
Das Land bringt Frucht und bessert sich,
The land bears fruit and is enriched,
Dein Wort ist wohl geraten.
your word is well considered.
Uns segne Vater und der Sohn,
May the Father and the Son bless us,
Uns segne Gott, der Heilge Geist,
May God the Holy spirit bless us,
Dem alle Welt die Ehre tut,
to whom all the world does honour,
Für ihm sich fürchten allermeist,
to fear him the most,
Und sprecht von Herzen: Amen!
and say from the heart : Amen!

--

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

Cantatas BWV 69 & BWV 69a: Complete Recordings of BWV 69 | Recordings of BWV 69a | Recordings of Individual Movemnts from BWV 69 | Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2
BWV 69: German Text | Translations: Dutch | English-1 | English-3 | English-6 | French-1 | French-4 | Hebrew-1 | Indonesian | Italian | Russian-1 | Spanish-3
Chorale Text: Es woll uns Gott genädig sein

English Translations in Interlinear Format (English-3): Sorted by BWV Number | Sorted by Title | Sorted by Event | Note on English Translations

Texts & Translations: 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 1081-1089 | BWV Anh | Chorale Texts | Sources | Poets & Composers | Discussions: Texts | Translations: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

Introduction | Cantatas | Other Vocal | Non-Vocal | Performers | General Topics | Articles | Books | Movies
Biographies | Texts & Translations | Scores | References | Commentary | Music | Concerts | Bach Tour | Memorabilia
Chorale Texts | Chorale Melodies | Lutheran Church Year | Readings | Poets & Composers | Transcriptions
Search Website | Search Works/Movements | Terms & Abbreviations | Copyright Notice | How to contribute | Links