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Cantata BWV 85
Ich bin ein guter Hirt
English Translation in Interlinear Format
Cantata BWV 85 - I am a good shepherd

Event: Cantata for Misericordias Domini [2nd Sunday after Easter]
Readings: Epistle: 1 Peter 2: 21-25; Gospel: John 10: 12-16
Text: John 10: 11 (Mvt. 1); Cornelius Becker (Mvt. 3); Ernst Christoph Homburg (Mvt. 6); Anon (Mvts. 2, 4-5) (Probably Christiane Mariane von Ziegler)
Chorale Text: Der Herr ist mein getreuer Hirt

Biblical quotations in green font, chorales in purple

1

Aria [Bass]

Oboe, Violino I/II, Viola, Continuo

Ich bin ein guter Hirt,
I am a good shepherd,
ein guter Hirt lässt sein Leben für die Schafe.
A good shepherd gives his life for his sheep.

2

Aria [Alto]

Violoncello piccolo, Continuo

Jesus ist ein guter Hirt;
Jesus is a good Shepherd;
Denn er hat bereits sein Leben
for he has already given his life
Für die Schafe hingegeben,
for his sheep
Die ihm niemand rauben wird.
And nobody shall rob him of them.
Jesus ist ein guter Hirt.
Jesus is a good Shepherd.

3

Chorale [S, A, T, B]

Oboe I/II, Continuo

Der Herr ist mein getreuer Hirt,
The Lord is my faithful shepherd
Dem ich mich ganz vertraue,
in whom I have complete trust,
Zur Weid er mich, sein Schäflein, führt
he leads me, his little sheep, to the pasture
Auf schöner grünen Aue,
in a beautiful green meadow
Zum frischen Wasser leit er mich
he leads me to fresh water
Mein Seel zu laben kräftiglich
to give powerful refreshment to my soul
Durch selig Wort der Gnaden.
through the blessed word of his grace.

4

Recitative [Tenor]

Violino I/II, Viola, Continuo

Wenn die Mietlinge schlafen,
While hirelings sleep,
Da wachtet dieser Hirt bei seinen Schafen,
the shepherd watches over his sheep,
So dass ein jedes in gewünschter Ruh
so that each in longed for peace
Die Trift und Weide kann genießen,
can relish the meadow and pasture,
In welcher Lebensströme fließen.
in which flow living streams.
Denn sucht der Höllenwolf gleich einzudringen,
for if the wolf of hell should try to break in
Die Schafe zu verschlingen,
to devour the sheep,
So hält ihm dieser Hirt doch seinen Rachen zu.
this Shepherd keeps wolf's jaws shut.

5

Aria [Tenor]

Violino I/II, Viola all' unisono, Continuo

Seht, was die Liebe tut.
See, what love does.
Mein Jesus hält in guter Hut
My Jesus in his own safekeeping
Die Seinen feste eingeschlossen
keeps those who are his own firmly enclosed
Und hat am Kreuzesstamm vergossen
and on the beam of the cross he has shed
Für sie sein teures Blut.
for them his own precious blood.

6

Choral [S, A, T, B]

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

Ist Gott mein Schutz und treuer Hirt,
If God is my protection and faithful Shepherd
Kein Unglück mich berühren wird:
no misfortune can touch me:
Weicht, alle meine Feinde,
go away, all my enemies
Die ihr mir stiftet Angst und Pein,
who cause me anguish and pain,
Es wird zu eurem Schaden sein,
it will turn out to be your own harm,
Ich habe Gott zum Freunde.
I have God for my friend.

--

This Translation in Parallel Format

English Translation by Francis Browne (August 2008)
Contributed by Francis Browne (August 2008)

Cantata BWV 85: Ich bin ein guter Hirt for Misericordias Domini [2nd Sunday after Easter] (1725)
Discography: Details & Complete Recordings | Recordings of Individual Movements
Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

BWV 85 Text: German-1 | German-6 | German-7 | NBA Text
Translations: English-1 | English-3I | English-3P | English-6 | English-10 | English-14
Catalan-1 | Chinese-2 | Danish-1 | Dutch-0 | Dutch-3 | French-4 | French-5 | French-6 | Hebrew-1 | Hungarian-1 | Indonesian-1 | Italian-5 | Norwegian-1 | Polish-1 | Russian-1 | Russian-3 | Spanish-2 | Spanish-3 | Spanish-7 | Spanish/English-8
Chorale Texts: Der Herr ist mein getreuer Hirt [BWV 85/3] | Ist Gott mein Schild und Helfersmann [BWV 85/6]

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