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Cantata BWV 81
Jesus schläft, was soll ich hoffen?
English Translation in Parallel Format
Cantata BWV 81 - Jesus sleeps, what should be my hope?

Event: Solo Cantata for the 4th Sunday after Epiphany
Readings: Epistle: Romans 13: 8-10; Gospel: Matthew 8: 23-27
Text: Johann Franck (Mvt. 7); Matthew 8: 26 (Mvt. 8); Anon (Mvts. 1-3, 5-6) [Wustmann & Neumann suggest Christian Weiss, Sr.; Alec Robertson suggests Erdmann Neumeister]
Chorale Text: Jesu, meine Freude

Biblical quotations in green font, chorales in purple

 

Original German Text

 

Catalan Translation

1

Aria A

1

Aria [Alto]

 

Flauto I/II, Violino I/II, Viola, Continuo

   
 

Jesus schläft, was soll ich hoffen?
Seh ich nicht
Mit erblasstem Angesicht
Schon des Todes Abgrund offen?

 

Jesus sleeps, what should be my hope?
Do I not see
with pallid face
death’s abyss already open?

       

2

Recitativo T

2

Recitative [Tenor]

 

Continuo

   
 

Herr! Warum trittest du so ferne?
Warum verbirgst du dich zur Zeit der Not,
Da alles mir ein kläglich Ende droht?
Ach, wird dein Auge nicht durch meine Not beweget
So sonsten nie zu schlummern pfleget?
Du wiesest ja mit einem Sterne
Vordem den neubekehrten Weisen,
Den rechten Weg zu reisen.
Ach leite mich durch deiner Augen Licht,
Weil dieser Weg nichts als Gefahr verspricht.

 

Lord! why do you walk so far away?
Why do you hide yourself in the time of my distress
when everything threatens me with a lamentable end?
Ah, is your eye not moved by my distress
that at other times is never accustomed to sleep?
You showed with a star
once to the newly converted wise men
the right way to travel.
Ah guide me by the light of your eyes
since this way promises nothing but danger.

       

3

Aria T

3

Aria [Tenor]

 

Violino I/II, Viola, Continuo

   
 

Die schäumenden Wellen von Belials Bächen
Verdoppeln die Wut.
Ein Christ soll zwar wie Wellen stehn,
Wenn Trübsalswinde um ihn gehn,
Doch suchet die stürmende Flut
Die Kräfte des Glaubens zu schwächen.

 

The foaming waves of Belial’s streams
redouble their rage.
A Christian should stand like a rock
when the winds of affliction go over it,
for the raging flood seeks
to weaken faith’s strength.

       

4

Arioso B

4

Arioso [Bass]

 

Continuo

   
 

Ihr Kleingläubigen, warum seid ihr so furchtsam?

 

You people of little faith, why are you so fearful?

       

5

Aria B

5

Ària [Baix]

 

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

   
 

Schweig, aufgetürmtes Meer!
Verstumme, Sturm und Wind!
Dir sei dein Ziel gesetzet,
Damit mein auserwähltes Kind
Kein Unfall je verletzet.

 

Be silent, towering sea!
Keep quiet , storm and wind !
Let a limit be set for you,
so that my chosen child
no mischance may harm.

       

6

Recitativo A

6

Recitatiu [Contralt]

 

Continuo

   
 

Wohl mir, mein Jesus spricht ein Wort,
Mein Helfer ist erwacht,
So muss der Wellen Sturm, des Unglücks Nacht
Und aller Kummer fort.

 

How happy I am, my Jesus speaks a word,
my helper is awake,
and so the waves’ storm, the night’s misfortune
and all cares must vanish.

       

7

Choral

7

Coral [S, C, T, B]

 

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

 

Unter deinen Schirmen
Bin ich für den Stürmen
Aller Feinde frei.
Laß den Satan wittern,
Laß den Feind erbittern,
Mir steht Jesus bei.
Ob es itzt gleich kracht und blitzt,
Ob gleich Sünd und Hölle schrecken,
Jesus will mich decken.

 

Beneath your protection
I am free from storms
and all enemies.
Let Satan sniff around,
let the enemy be exasperated
Jesus stands by me.
Though there is thunder and lightning,
thought sin and hell terrify,
Jesus will protect me.

       

This Translation in Interlinear Format

English Translation by Francis Browne (February 2006)

Contributed by Francis Browne (October 2011)

Cantata BWV 81: Jesus schläft, was soll ich hoffen? for 4th Sunday after Epiphany (1724)
Discography: Details & Complete Recordings | Recordings of Individual Movements
Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

BWV 81 Text: German-1 | German-6 | German-7 | NBA Text
Translations: English-1 | English-3I | English-3P | English-6 | English-7 | English-10 | English-14
Catalan-1 | Chinese-2 | Dutch-0 | Dutch-3 | French-4 | French-5 | French-6 | Hebrew-1 | Hungarian-1 | Indonesian-1 | Italian-2 | Norwegian-1 | Polish-1 | Polish-2 (version 1) | Polish-2 (version 2) | Russian-1 | Russian-3 | Spanish-3 | Spanish-7 | Spanish/English-8
Emblemata: BWV 81/3
Chorale Text: Jesu, meine Freude [BWV 81/7]

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