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Cantata BWV 78
Jesu, der du meine Seele
English Translation in Parallel Format
Cantata BWV 78 - Jesus, by whom my soul

Event: Chorale Cantata for 14th Sunday after Trinity
Readings: Epistle: Galatians 5: 16-24; Gospel: Luke 17: 11-19
Text: Johann Rist (Mvts. 1, 7); Anon (Mvts. 2-6)
Jesu, der du meine Seele

Biblical quotations in green font, chorales in purple

 

Original German Text

 

English Translation

1

Coro

1

Chorus [S, A, T, B]

 

Corno col Soprano, Flauto traverso, Oboe I/II, Violino I/II, Viola, Continuo

 

Jesu, der du meine Seele
Hast durch deinen bittern Tod
Aus des Teufels finstern Höhle
Und der schweren Seelennot
Kräftiglich herausgerissen
Und mich solches lassen wissen
Durch dein angenehmes Wort,
Sei doch itzt, o Gott, mein Hort!

 

Jesus, by whom my soul
through your bitter death
from the devil's dark abyss
and from heavy distress of soul
has been mightily torn free
and by whom I have been made to know this
through your kindly word,
be still now, O God, my refuge!

       

2

Aria (Duetto) S A

2

Aria (Duet) [Soprano, Alto]

 

Organo, Violoncello, Violone

 
 

Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten,
O Jesu, o Meister, zu helfen zu dir.
Du suchest die Kranken und Irrenden treulich.
Ach höre, wie wir
Die Stimmen erheben, um Hülfe zu bitten!
Es sei uns dein gnädiges Antlitz erfreulich!

 

We hurry with weak yet eager steps,
O Jesus, O master, to you to help.
You faithfully look for the sick and straying.
Ah hear, as we

raise our voices to pray for help!
May your gracious countenance give us joy!

       

3

Recitativo T

3

Recitative [Tenor]

 

Continuo

 
 

Ach! ich bin ein Kind der Sünden,
Ach! ich irre weit und breit.

 

Ah! I am a child of sin,
Ah!I stray far and wide.

 

Der Sünden Aussatz, so an mir zu enden,
Verlässt mich nicht in dieser Sterblichkeit.
Mein Wille trachtet nur nach Bösen.
Der Geist zwar spricht: ach! wer wird mich erlösen?

 

Sin's leprosy, which is found in me,
will not leave me in this mortal life.
My will strives only after evil.
My spirit indeed says:Ah! Who will set me free?

 

Aber Fleisch und Blut zu zwingen
Und das Gute zu vollbringen,

 

But to overcome flesh and blood
and to carry out what is good,

 

Ist über alle meine Kraft.
Will ich den Schaden nicht verhehlen,
So kann ich nicht, wie oft ich fehle, zählen.
Drum nehm ich nun der Sünden Schmerz und Pein
Und meiner Sorgen Bürde,
So mir sonst unerträglich würde,
Ich liefre sie dir, Jesu, seufzend ein.

 

is beyond all my strength.
Even though I would not hide my failings

I cannot count how often I fail.
Therefore I now take the sorrow and pain of sin

and the burden of my cares
that would otherwise be unbearable for me
And with sighs hand them over to you, Jesus.

 

Rechne nicht die Missetat,
Die dich, Herr, erzürnet hat!

 

Do not count my misdeeds
Which have angered you, Lord!

       

4

Aria T

4

Aria [Tenor]

 

Flauto traverso, Continuo

 
 

Das Blut, so meine Schuld durchstreicht,
Macht mir das Herze wieder leicht
Und spricht mich frei.
Ruft mich der Höllen Heer zum Streite,
So stehet Jesus mir zur Seite,
Dass ich beherzt und sieghaft sei.

 

The blood that cancels out my guilt
makes my heart again light
and declares me free.
If the hosts of hell call me to battle,
then Jesus stands by my side,
so that I am encouraged and victorious.

       

5

Recitativo B

5

Recitative [Bass]

 

Violino I/II, Viola, Continuo

 
 

Die Wunden, Nägel, Kron und Grab,
Die Schläge, so man dort dem Heiland gab,
Sind ihm nunmehro Siegeszeichen
Und können mir verneute Kräfte reichen.
Wenn ein erschreckliches Gericht
Den Fluch vor die Verdammten spricht,
So kehrst du ihn in Segen.
Mich kann kein Schmerz und keine Pein bewegen,
Weil sie mein Heiland kennt;
Und da dein Herz vor mich in Liebe brennt,
So lege ich hinwieder
Das meine vor dich nieder.

 

The wounds, nails, crown and grave,
the blows that were there given to my Saviour,
are now signs of his victory

and can give me renewed powers.
When a terrifying judgement

pronounces a curse on the damned,
you turn it into a blessing.
No sorrow and no pain can move me,
because my Saviour knows them

and since yout heart burns with love for me
I in turn lay down
What is mine before you.

 

Dies mein Herz, mit Leid vermenget,
So dein teures Blut besprenget,
So am Kreuz vergossen ist,
Geb ich dir, Herr Jesu Christ.

 

This heart of mine, mixed with suffering,
sprinkled with your precious blood,
that was shed on the cross

I give to you , Lord Jesus Christ.

       

6

Aria B

6

Aria [Bass]

 

Oboe I, Violino I/II, Viola, Continuo

 
 

Nun du wirst mein Gewissen stillen,
So wider mich um Rache schreit,
Ja, deine Treue wird's erfüllen,
Weil mir dein Wort die Hoffnung beut.
Wenn Christen an dich glauben,
Wird sie kein Feind in Ewigkeit
Aus deinen Händen rauben.

 

Now you will calm my conscience
that cries against me for vengeance,
yes, your faithfulness will fulfil it

since your word offers me hope.
If Christians believe in you,
no enemy in all eternity

Will steal them from your hands.

       

7

Choral

7

Chorale [S, A, T, B]

 

Flauto traverso in octava e Corno e Oboe I e Violino I col Soprano, Oboe II e Violino II coll'Alto, Viola col Tenore, Continuo

 

Herr, ich glaube, hilf mir Schwachen,
Laß mich ja verzagen nicht;
Du, du kannst mich stärker machen,
Wenn mich Sünd und Tod anficht.
Deiner Güte will ich trauen,
Bis ich fröhlich werde schauen
Dich, Herr Jesu, nach dem Streit
In der süßen Ewigkeit.

 

Lord,I believe , help me in my weakness,
let me not despair;
You, you can make me stronger,
When sin and death assail me.
I shall trust in your goodness

until wth joy I shall behold
you, Lord Jesus , after the battle
in sweet eternity.

       

This Translation in Interlinear Format + Note on the Text

English Translation by Francis Browne (August 2008, January 2012 )

Contributed by Francis Browne (August 2008, January 2012)

Cantata BWV 78: Jesu, der du meine Seele for 14th Sunday after Trinity (1724)
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
Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6
Article: Program Notes to Jesu, der du meine Seele, BWV 78 [S. Burton]

BWV 78 Text: German-1 | German-6 | German-7 | NBA Text
Translations: English-1 | English-3I | English-3P | English-5 | English-6 | English-10 | English-13 | English-14
Catalan-1 | Chinese-2 | Danish-1 | Dutch-0 | Dutch-4 | French-1 | French-4 | French-5 | French-6 | Hebrew-1 | Indonesian-1 | Italian-2 | Japanese-6 | Norwegian-1 | Polish-1 | Russian-1 | Russian-3 | Spanish-2 | Spanish-7 | Spanish/English-8
Chorale Text: Jesu, der du meine Seele [BWV 78/1,~2-6,7]

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 14:26