Cantata BWV 79
Gott der Herr ist Sonn und Schild
English Translation in Parallel Format
Cantata BWV 79 - God the Lord is sun and shield |
Event: Cantata for the Feast of the Reformation
Readings: Epistle: 2 Thessalonians 2: 3-8; Gospel: Revelations 14: 6-8
Text: Psalm 84: 11 (Mvt. 1); Martin Rinckart (Mvt. 3); Ludwig Helmbold (Mvt. 6); Anon (Mvts. 2, 4, 5)
Chorale Texts: Nun danket alle Gott | Nun laßt uns Gott dem Herren |
Biblical quotations in green font , chorales in purple |
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Original German Text |
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English Translation |
1 |
Coro |
1 |
Chorus [S, A, T, B] |
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Corno I/II, Timpani, Flauto traverso I e Oboe I all' unisono, Flauto traverso II e Oboe II all' unisono, Violino I/II, Viola, Continuo |
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Gott der Herr ist Sonn und Schild.
Der Herr gibt Gnade und Ehre,
er wird kein Gutes mangeln lassen den Frommen. |
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God the Lord is sun and shield,
the Lord gives mercy and honour,
he will allow no good thing to be lacking to the righteous. |
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2 |
Aria A |
2 |
Aria [Alto] |
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Oboe solo, Continuo |
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Gott ist unsre Sonn und Schild!
Darum rühmet dessen Güte
Unser dankbares Gemüte,
Die er für sein Häuflein hegt.
Denn er will uns ferner schützen,
Ob die Feinde Pfeile schnitzen
Und ein Lästerhund gleich billt. |
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God is our sun and shield!
Therefore our grateful spirit
praises the kindness
with which he cares for his little flock.
For he wants to continue to protect us
although our enemies sharpen their arrows
and a blasphemous dog now barks. |
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3 |
Choral |
3 |
Chorale [S, A, T, B] |
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Flauto traverso I/II e Oboe I/II e Violino I col Soprano, Violino II coll'Alto, Viola col Tenore, Corno I/II, Timpani, Continuo |
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Nun danket alle Gott
Mit Herzen, Mund und Händen,
Der große Dinge tut
An uns und allen Enden,
Der uns von Mutterleib
Und Kindesbeinen an
Unzählig viel zugut
Und noch itzund getan. |
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Now all thank God
with heart,mouth and hands;
He does great things
for us and all our purposes;
He for us from our mother's womb
and childish steps
countless great good
has done and still continues to do. |
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4 |
Recitativo B |
4 |
Recitative [Bass] |
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Continuo |
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Gottlob, wir wissen
Den rechten Weg zur Seligkeit;
Denn, Jesu, du hast ihn uns durch dein Wort gewiesen,
Drum bleibt dein Name jederzeit gepriesen.
Weil aber viele noch
Zu dieser Zeit
An fremdem Joch
Aus Blindheit ziehen müssen,
Ach! so erbarme dich
Auch ihrer gnädiglich,
Dass sie den rechten Weg erkennen
Und dich bloß ihren Mittler nennen. |
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God be praised, we know
the right way to blessedness;
for, Jesus, you have shown it to us through your word,
therefore your name forever remains praised.
But since many still
at this time
must bear a foreign yoke through blindness,
ah! have pity
on them graciously
so that they come to know the right way
and name you as their only mediator. |
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5 |
Aria (Duetto) S B |
5 |
Aria (Duet) [Soprano, Bass] |
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Violino I/II all' unisono, Continuo |
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Gott, ach Gott, verlass die Deinen
Nimmermehr!
Laß dein Wort uns helle scheinen;
Obgleich sehr
Wider uns die Feinde toben,
So soll unser Mund dich loben. |
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God, ah God, forsake your people
never again!
Let your word shine clearly for us;
although our enemies rage very greatly against us,
our mouth will then praise you. |
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6 |
Choral |
6 |
Chorale [S, A, T, B] |
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Flauto traverso I/II e Oboe I/II e Violino I col Soprano, Violino II coll'Alto, Viola col Tenore, Corno I/II, Timpani, Continuo |
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Erhalt uns in der Wahrheit,
Gib ewigliche Freiheit,
Zu preisen deinen Namen
Durch Jesum Christum. Amen. |
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Keep us in the truth,
give us eternal freedom
to praise your name
through Jesus Christ. Amen. |
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This Translation in Interlinear Format |
English Translation by Francis Browne (April 2003) |
Contributed by Francis Browne (April 2003) |