Cantata BWV 97
In allem meinen Taten
English Translation in Interlinear Format
Cantata BWV 97 – In all that I do

Event: Choral Cantata for unspecified occasion. According to Schweizer it was also used as a Wedding Cantata
Text: Paul Fleming
Chorale Text: In allen meinen Taten

Biblical quotations in green font, chorales in purple

1

Chorus

Oboe I/II, Fagotti, Violino I/II, Viola, Continuo

In allem meinen Taten
In all that I do
Laß ich den Höchsten raten,
I am led by God’s counsel,
Der alles kann und hat;
who can do all and owns all;
Er muss zu allen Dingen,
in everything he must give
Solls anders wohl gelingen,
if it is to turn out well,
Selbst geben Rat und Tat.
his own advice and counsel to me.

2

Aria [Bass]

Continuo

Nichts ist es spät und frühe
Early or late nothing comes,
Um alle sein Mühe,
from all my efforts,
Mein Sorgen ist umsonst.
my anxiety is in vain;
Er mags mit meinen Sachen
he may deal with my affairs
Nach seinem Willen machen,
according to his will,
Ich stells in seine Gunst.
I entrust them to his care.

3

Recitative [Tenor]

Continuo

Es kann mir nichts geschehen,
Nothing can happen to me
Als was er hat ersehen,
except what he has foreseen
Und was mir selig ist;
and what is a blessing for me
Ich nehm es, wie ers gibet;
I take as he gives;
Was ihm von mir beliebet,
what to him is pleasing from me
Das hab ich auch erkiest.
is the very thing I choose also myself.

4

Aria [Tenor]

Violino solo, Continuo

Ich traue seiner Gnaden,
I trust in his grace
Die mich vor allem Schaden,
that from all harm,
Vor allem Übel schützt.
from all evil protects me;
Leb ich nach seinen Gesetzen,
if I live according to his laws,
So wird mich nichts verletzen,
then there is nothing to harm me
Nichts fehlen, was mir nützt.
nothing lacking that is useful for me.

5

Recitative [Alto]

Violino I/II, Viola, Continuo

Er wolle meiner Sünden
May it be his will from my sins
In Gnaden mich entbinden,
in his mercy to release me
Durchstreichen meine Schuld!
to cancel out my guilt;
Er wird auf mein Verbrechen
on my transgressions
Nicht stracks das Urteil sprechen
he will not pronounce a harsh sentence
Und haben noch Geduld.
and he will still have patience with me.

6

Aria [Alto]

Violino I/II, Viola, Continuo

Leg ich mich späte nieder,
Whether I lie down late
Erwache frühe wieder,
or wake up early,
Lieg und ziehe fort,
whether I stay in or go out,
In Schwachheit und in Banden.
in weakness and in bondage,
Und was mir stößt zuhanden,
whatever happens to confront me,
So tröstet mich sein Wort.
yet his word is my consolation.

7

Aria (Duet) [Soprano, Bass]

Continuo

Hat er es denn beschlossen,
If it is his decision,
So will ich unverdrossen
then I will go undeterred
An mein Verhängnis gehn!
to meet my fate!
Kein Unfall unter allen
No misfortune whatsoever
Soll mir zu harte fallen,
shall be too harsh for me,
Ich will ihn überstehn.
I shall overcome it.

8

Aria [Soprano]

Oboe I/II, Continuo

Ich hab mich ihm ergeben
To him I have entrusted myself
Zu sterben und zu leben,
in dying and in living,
Sobald er mir gebeut.
whenever he bids me;
Es sei heut oder morgen,
whether it may be today or tomorrow
Dafür lass ich ihn sorgen;
I leave to his care,
Er weiß die rechte Zeit.
he alone knows the right time.

9

Chorale

Oboe I/II col Soprano, Violino I/II, Viola, Continuo

So sein nun, Seele, deine
Therefore, my soul, be true to yourself
Und traue dem alleine,
and trust him alone
Der ich erschaffen hat;
who has created you.
Es gehe, wie es gehe,
Come what may,
Dein Vater in der Höhe
your Father in heaven
Weiß allen Sachen Rat.
knows what is best in all situations.

--

English Translation by Francis Browne (April 2006)
Contributed by Francis Browne (July 2008)

Cantata BWV 97: Complete Recordings | Recordings of Individual Movements | Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2 | Number Symbolism in Bach Cantatas
German Text | Translations: Dutch | English-1 | English-3 | English-6 | French-1 | French-4 | French-6 | Hebrew-1 | Indonesian | Italian-2 | Russian-1 | Spanish-5
Chorale Text: In allen meinen Taten

English Translations in Interlinear Format (English-3): Sorted by BWV Number | Sorted by Title | Sorted by Event | Note on English Translations