Recordings/Discussions
Background Information
Performer Bios

Poet/Composer Bios

Additional Information

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


Cantata BWV 9
Es ist das Heil uns kommen her
English Translation in Interlinear Format
Cantata BWV 9 - Salvation has come to us

Event: Chorale Cantata for 6th Sunday after Trinity
Reading: Readings: Epistle: Romans 6: 3-11; Gospel: Matthew 5: 20-26
Text: Paul Speratus (Mvt. 1, 7); Anon (Mvt. 2-6)
Chorale Text: Es ist das Heil uns kommen her

Biblical quotations in green font, chorales in purple

1

Chorus [S, A, T, B]

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

Es ist das Heil uns kommen her
Salvation has come to us
Von Gnad und lauter Güte.
from grace and sheer kindness.
Die Werk, die helfen nimmermehr,
Works never help,
Sie mögen nicht behüten.
they cannot protect us.
Der Glaub sieht Jesum Christum an,
Faith looks towards Jesus Christ
Der hat g'nug für uns all getan,
who has done enough for all of us.
Er ist der Mittler worden.
He has become our mediator.

2

Recitative [Bass]

Continuo

Gott gab uns ein Gesetz, doch waren wir zu schwach,
God gave us a law, but we were too weak
Dass wir es hätten halten können,
to be able to keep it.
Wir gingen nur den Sünden nach,
we followed only sin,
Kein Mensch war fromm zu nennen;
nobody could be called devout.
Der Geist blieb an dem Fleische kleben
The spirit clung to the flesh
Und wagte nicht zu widerstreben.
And did not dare to strive against it.
Wir sollten in Gesetze gehn
We should have gone along with the law
Und dort als wie in einem Spiegel sehn,
and seen there as in a mirror
Wie unsere Natur unartig sei;
how bad our nature is.
Und dennoch blieben wir dabei.
And yet we remained in this condition
Aus eigner Kraft wo niemand fähig,
by his own strength no one was able
Der Sünden Unart zu verlassen,
to abandon the badness of sin,
Er möcht auch alle Kraft zusammenfassen.
even if he tried with all his strength to do so.

3

Aria [Tenor]

Violino solo, Continuo

Wir waren schon zu tief gesunken,
We were sunk too deep,
Der Abgrund schluckt uns völlig ein,
the abyss had swallowed us completely,
Die Tiefe drohte schon den Tod,
the deep already threatened us with death
Und dennoch konnt in solcher Not
and yet in such distress
Uns keine Hand behilflich sein.
no one could give us a helping hand.

4

Recitative [Bass]

Continuo

Doch musste das Gesetz erfüllet werden;
But the law had to be fulfilled;
Deswegen kam das Heil der Erden,
for this reason salvation came to the earth,
Des Höchsten Sohn, der hat es selbst erfüllt
the son of God most high himself fulfilled the law
Und seines Vaters Zorn gestillt.
And pacified his father's anger.
Durch sein unschuldig Sterben
Through his innocent death
Ließ er uns Hilf erwerben.
He enabled us to acquire help.
Wer nun demselben traut,
Those who trust in him,
Wer auf sein Leiden baut,
those who build on his suffering,
Der gehet nicht verloren.
Will not be lost.
Der Himmel ist für den erkoren,
Heaven is destined for those
Der wahren Glauben mit sich bringt
who bring true faith with them
Und fest um Jesu Arme schlingt.
And clasp Jesus firmly in their arms.

5

Aria (Duet) [Soprano, Alto]

Flauto traverso, Oboe d'amore, Continuo

Herr, du siehst statt guter Werke
Lord, instead of good works you look at
Auf des Herzens Glaubensstärke,
the strength of faith in our hearts,
Nur den Glauben nimmst du an.
You only take account of faith.
Nur der Glaube macht gerecht,
only faith justifies us,
Alles andre scheint zu schlecht,
everything else appears too imperfect
Als dass es uns helfen kann.
to be able to help us.

6

Recitative [Bass]

Continuo

Wenn wir die Sünd aus dem Gesetz erkennen,
When we recognize sin through the law
So schlägt es das Gewissen nieder;
then conscience strikes us down;
Doch ist das unser Trost zu nennen,
but this may also be called our consolation
Dass wir im Evangelio
for in the Gospel
Gleich wieder froh
we again become
Und freudig werden:
happy and joyful:
Dies stärket unsern Glauben wieder.
this strengthens our faith again.
Drauf hoffen wir der Zeit,
For this reason we hope for the time
Die Gottes Gütigkeit
that God's goodness
Uns zugesaget hat,
has promised us,
Doch aber auch aus weisem Rat
but has also with prudent counsel
Die Stunde uns verschwiegen.
kept hidden from us the hour.
Jedoch, wir lassen uns begnügen,
However, we are content to accept this
Er weiß es, wenn es nötig ist,
he knows well when it is necessary
Und brauchet keine List
and practices no deceit
An uns; wir dürfen auf ihn bauen
upon us; we may build on him
Und ihm allein vertrauen.
And in him alone place our trust.

7

Chorale [S, A, T, B]

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

Ob sichs anließ, als wollt er nicht,
Although it seems that he is unwilling,
Laß dich es nicht erschrecken:
do not be dismayed,
Denn wo er ist am besten mit,
for when he is most present with us,
Da will ers nicht entdecken.
then he does not want to reveal that fact.
Sein Wort lass dir gewisser sein,
Regard his word as certain for you,
Und ob dein Herz spräch lauter Nein,
and even if the flesh can only say no,
So lass doch dir nicht grauen.
you should not be appalled.

--

This Translation in Parallel Format

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

Cantata BWV 9: Es ist das Heil uns kommen her for 6th Sunday after Trinity (1732-1735)
Discography: Details & Complete Recordings | Recordings of Individual Movements
Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

BWV 9 Text: German-1 | German-2 | German-6 | German-7 | NBA Text
Translations: English-1 | English-3I | English-3P | English-6 | English-10 | English-13 | English-14
Catalan-1 | Chinese-2 | Danish-1 | Dutch-0 | Dutch-2 | Dutch-3 | French-1 | French-4 | French-5 | French-6 | Hebrew-1 | Indonesian-1 | Italian-2 | Italian-4 | Norwegian-1 | Polish-1 | Portuguese-2 | Russian-1 | Russian-3 | Spanish-3 | Spanish-7 | Spanish/English-8
Chorale Text: Es ist das Heil uns kommen her [BWV 9/1,7]

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




 

Back to the Top


Last update: Monday, January 09, 2023 14:26