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Chorales BWV 250-438: Details and Recordings
Individual Recordings: Hilliard - Morimur | Chorales - N. Matt | Chorales - H. Rilling | Preludi ai Corali - Quartetto Italiani di Viola Da Gamba
Discussions: Motets & Chorales for Events in the LCY / Chorales by Theme | General Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Chorales in Bach Cantatas: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Passion Chorale
References: Chorales BWV 250-300 | Chorales BWV 301-350 | Chorales BWV 351-400 | Chorales BWV 401-438 | 371 4-Part Chorales sorted by Breitkopf Number | Texts & Translations of Chorales BWV 250-438
Chorale Texts: Sorted by Title | Chorale Melodies: Sorted by Title | Explanation
MIDI files of the Chorales: Cantatas BWV 1-197 | Other Vocal Works BWV 225-248 | Chorales BWV 250-438
Articles: The Origin of the Texts of the Chorales [A. Schweitzer] | The Origin of the Melodies of the Chorales [A. Schweitzer] | The Chorale in the Church Service [A. Schweitzer] | Choral / Chorale [C.S. Terry] | Hidden Chorale Melody Allusions [T. Braatz] | The History of the Breitkopf Collection of J. S. Bach’s Four-Part Chorales [T. Braatz] | The World of the Bach Chorale Settings [W.L. Hoffman]
Hymnals: Hymnals used by Bach | Wagner Hymnal 1697 | Evangelisches Gesangbuch 1995 | Dietel Chorale List c1734
Abbreviations used for the Chorales | Links to other Sites about the Chorales


Herr Jesu Christ, du höchstes Gut
Text and Translation of Chorale

EKG:
Author:
Bartholomäus Ringwaldt (1588)
Chorale Melody: Herr Jesu Christ, du höchstes Gut | Composer: Bartholomäus Ringwaldt (?)

 

Vocal Works by J.S. Bach:

Ver

Work

Mvt.

Year

Br

RE

KE

Di

BC

Type

 

1

BWV 113

Mvt. 1

1724

-

-

-

-

A122:1

Chorus (Chorale) [S, A, T, B]

 

2

BWV 113

Mvt. 2

1724

-

-

-

-

A122:2

Chorale [S, A, T, B]

 

4

BWV 113

Mvt. 4

1724

-

-

-

-

A122:4

Recitative & Chorale [B]

 

8

BWV 113

Mvt. 8

1724

293

142

294

74

A122:8

Chorale [S, A, T, B]

 

2

BWV 131

Mvt. 2

1707

-

-

-

-

B25:2

Arioso w/ Chorale [B, S]

 

5

BWV 131

Mvt. 4

1707

-

-

-

-

B25:4

Aria w/ Chorale [T, A]

 

8

BWV 168

Mvt. 6

1725

92

143

92

-

A116:6

Chorale [S, A, T, B]

 

-

BWV 334

-

?

73

141

73

-

F202:1

Chorale [S, A, T, B]

 
 
 

German Text (verses in bold print set by Bach)

English Translation

1

Herr Jesu Christ, du höchstes Gut,
Du Brunnquell aller Gnaden,
Sieh doch, wie ich in meinem Mut
Mit Schmerzen bin beladen
Und in mir hab der Pfeile viel,
Die im Gewissen ohne Ziel
Mich armen Sünder drücken..

Lord Jesus Christ, you highest good,
you source of all mercy
see how in my spirit I
am burdened with sorrows
and in me have the pains of many arrows
which in my conscience without limit
weigh down me, a poor sinner

2

Erbarm dich mein in solcher Last,
nimm sie aus meinem Herzen,
dieweil du sie gebüsset hast
am Holz mit Todesschmerzen :
auf daß ich nicht mit grossem Weh
in meinen Sünden untergeh,
noch ewiglich verzage.

Have mercy on me with such a burden,
take it away from my heart,
since you have paid the price for it
on the wood [of the cross] with the pains of death.
So that I may not with great sorrow
drown in my sins
nor despair for ever.

3

Ach Gott, wenn mir das kommet ein,
was ich mein Tag begangen,
so fällt mir auf mein Herz ein Stein,
und bin mit Furcht umfangen :
ja, ich weis weder aus noch ein,
und müßt wol gar verloren seyn,
wenn ich dein Wort nicht hätte

Ah God, when it comes home to me
what I have committed during my days,
then a stone falls on my heart
and I am surrounded by fear:
yes, I am at my wit’s end
and must certainly be lost,
if I did not have your Word.

4

Allein dein heilsam Wort mir sagt,
daß alles wird vergeben,
was hie bußfertig wird beklagt :
nicht schaden solls am Leben.
Ja, Herr, du alle Gnad verheißst
denen, die mit zerknirschtem Geist
im Glauben zu dir kommen.

Only your healing word says to me
that all will be forgiven
that is here lamented in repentance:
it will not harm our life.
Yes, Lord, you promise every mercy
to those who with contrite spirit
come to you in faith.

5

Und weil ich denn in meinem Sinn,
Wie ich zuvor geklaget,
Auch ein betrübter Sünder bin,
Den sein Gewissen naget,
Und wollte gern im Blute dein
Von Sünden abgewaschen sein
Wie David und Manasse.

Especially since I in my mind,
as I have for a long time lamented,
am also a troubled sinner,
who is gnawed by his conscience,
and would willingly in your blood
be washed clean from my sins
like David and Manasseh.

6

So komm ich auch zu dir allhie
in meiner Noth geschritten,
und thu dich mit gebeugtem Knie,
von ganzem Herzen, bitten :
vergieb mir Heiland gnädiglich,
was ich mein Lebtag wider dich
auf Erden hab begangen.

Therefore I also come to you
downtrodden in my distress
and on my bended knees
with my whole heart entreat you:
forgive me, my Saviour, in your mercy
whatever in my life against you
I have committed on earth.

7

Ach Herr, mein Gott, vergieb mirs doch,
um deines Namens willen,
und thu in mir das schwere Joch
der Uebertretung stillen,
daß sich mein Herz zufrieden geb,
und dir hinfort zu Ehren leb,
in kindlichem Gehorsam

Ah Lord, my God, forgive me
for your name’s sake,
and let the heavy yoke
of my transgressions be laid to rest,
so that my heart may rejoice
and from now on live for your honour
in childlike obedience.

8

Stärk mich mit deinem Freudengeist,
Heil mich mit deinen Wunden,
Wasch mich mit deinem Todesschweiß
In meiner letzten Stunden;
Und nimm mich einst, wenn dir's gefällt,
In wahrem Glauben von der Welt
Zu deinen Auserwählten!

Strengthen me with your joyful spirit.
heal me with your wounds,
wash me with the sweat of your death
in my last hour;
and take me then, when it pleases you,
in true belief from the world
to the people you have chosen

Dick Wursten has pointed out that the original text of stanza 4 was different and has kindly supplied the following text from a hymn book of 1704.

 

Aber dein heilsam Wort es macht
Mit seinem süssen Singen
Daß mir das Herze wieder lacht
Und gleich beginnt zu springen
Dieweil es alle Gnad verheist
Denen die mit zerknirschtem Geist
Zu dir, Herr Jesu, kommen

But your healing word
With its sweet singing
makes my heart laugh again
and at once begin to leap up
since it promises every grace
to those who with remorseful spirits
come to you, Lord Jesus.

--

English Translation by Francis Browne (December 2004; revised October 2013)
Contributed by Francis Browne (December 2004, October 2013)
Thanks to contrbutors: Dick Wursten (October 2013)


Chorales BWV 250-438: Details and Recordings
Individual Recordings: Hilliard - Morimur | Chorales - N. Matt | Chorales - H. Rilling | Preludi ai Corali - Quartetto Italiani di Viola Da Gamba
Discussions: Motets & Chorales for Events in the LCY / Chorales by Theme | General Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Chorales in Bach Cantatas: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Passion Chorale
References: Chorales BWV 250-300 | Chorales BWV 301-350 | Chorales BWV 351-400 | Chorales BWV 401-438 | 371 4-Part Chorales sorted by Breitkopf Number | Texts & Translations of Chorales BWV 250-438
Chorale Texts: Sorted by Title | Chorale Melodies: Sorted by Title | Explanation
MIDI files of the Chorales: Cantatas BWV 1-197 | Other Vocal Works BWV 225-248 | Chorales BWV 250-438
Articles: The Origin of the Texts of the Chorales [A. Schweitzer] | The Origin of the Melodies of the Chorales [A. Schweitzer] | The Chorale in the Church Service [A. Schweitzer] | Choral / Chorale [C.S. Terry] | Hidden Chorale Melody Allusions [T. Braatz] | The History of the Breitkopf Collection of J. S. Bach’s Four-Part Chorales [T. Braatz] | The World of the Bach Chorale Settings [W.L. Hoffman]
Hymnals: Hymnals used by Bach | Wagner Hymnal 1697 | Evangelisches Gesangbuch 1995 | Dietel Chorale List c1734
Abbreviations used for the Chorales | Links to other Sites about the Chorales




 

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Last update: Thursday, January 20, 2022 22:53