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O Gott, du frommer Gott
Text and Translation of Chorale

EKG:
Author: Johann Heermann (1630)

Chorale Melody 1: O Gott, du frommer Gott - Melody 2 | Composer: Anon (c1670)

Vocal Works by J.S. Bach:

Ver

Work

Mvt.

Type

Year

Br

RE

KE

Di

BC

1

BWV 24

Mvt. 6

Chorale

1723

336

-

337

A102:6

6

BWV 71

Mvt. 2

Aria w/ Chorale

1708

-

-

-

-

B1:2

-

BWV 399

-

Chorale

?

314

282

315

F157.1

Chorale Melody 2: O Gott, du frommer Gott - Melody 3 | Composer: Ahasverus Fritsch (1679)

Vocal Works by J.S. Bach:

Ver

Work

Mvt.

Type

Year

Br

RE

KE

Di

BC

2

BWV 45

Mvt. 7

Chorale

1726

84

278

85

A113:7

German Text (verses in bold print set by Bach)

English Translation

1

O Gott, du frommer Gott,
Du Brunnquell guter Gaben,
Ohn' den nichts ist, was ist,
Von dem wir alles haben:
Gesunden Leib gib mir,
Und daß in solchem Leib
Ein' unverletzte Seel'
Und rein Gewißen bleib'

Oh God, you righteous god
you source of good gifts,
without whom nothing exists that does exist,
from whom we have everything :
give me a healthy body
and grant that in such a body
there may remain an inviolate soul
and a pure conscience.

2

Gib, daß ich tu' mit Fleiß,
Was mir zu tun gebühret,
Wozu mich dein Befehl
In meinem Stande führet!
Gib, daß ich's tue bald,
Zu der Zeit, da ich soll,
Und wenn ich's tu', so gib,
Daß es gerate wohl!

Grant that I may do diligently
what it is my duty to do,
as your command guides me
in my position.
Grant that I may do it promptly,
at the time when I should,
and when I do it, then grant
that it may turn out well!

3

Hilf, daß ich rede stets,
Womit ich kann bestehen,
Laß kein unnützes Wort
Aus meinem Munde gehen;
Und wenn in meinem Amt
Ich reden soll und muß,
So gib den Worten Kraft
Und Nachdruck ohn' Verdruß!

Help me, so that I may always say
what I can stand by,
let no useless word
come from my mouth,
and when in my office
I should and must speak,
then give my words force
and weight without causing vexation.

4

Find't sich Gefährlichkeit,
So laß mich nicht verzagen;
Gib einen Heldenmut,
Das Kreuz hilf selber tragen!
Gib, daß ich meinen Feind
Mit Sanftmut überwind'
Und, wenn ich Rats bedarf,
Auch guten Rat erfind'!

If there is danger,
then let me not despair,
give me heroic courage,
help me to bear my cross !
Grant that I may overcome
my enemies with gentleness.
And if I need counsel
may I find good counsel.

5

Laß mich mit jedermann
In Fried' und Freundschaft leben,
Soweit es christlich ist.
Willst du mir etwas geben
An Reichtum, Gut und Geld,
So gib auch dies dabei,
Daß von unrechtem Gut
Nichts untermenget sei!

Let me with everyone
live in peace and friendship,
as far as is Christian.
If you want to give me anything to do with
wealth, property and money,
then give this also,
that nothing may be mixed up
with any goods that are unjust.

6

Soll ich auf dieser Welt
Mein Leben höher bringen,
Durch manchen sauern Tritt
Hindurch ins Alter dringen,
So gib Geduld. Vor Sünd'
Und Schanden mich bewahr',
Auf daß ich tragen mag
Mit Ehren graues Haar!

If in this world I have to
live my life longer,
through many a bitter step
press on to old age,
then give me patience. From sin
and shame protect me,
so that I may bear
with honour my grey hair

7

Laß mich an meinem End'
Auf Christi Tod abscheiden,
Die Seele nimm zu dir
Hinauf zu deinen Freuden,
Dem Leib ein Räumlein gönn
Bei seiner Eltern Grab,
Auf daß er seine Ruh'
An ihrer Seite hab'

At my end let me
depart relying on Christ's death,
take my soul to you
to your joys in heaven,
bestow a little space on my body,
a grave by my parents,
so that it may have peace
by their side.

8

Wenn du an jenem Tag
Die Toten wirst aufwecken,
So tu auch deine Hand
Zu meinem Grab ausstrecken;
Laß hören deine Stimm'
Und meinen Leib weck auf
Und führ ihn schön verklärt
Zum auserwählten Hauf'!

On that day
when you will awaken the dead,
then stretch out your hand
to my grave,
let me hear your voice,
and awaken my body
and lead it beautiful and transformed
to the multitude of your chosen people!

--

English Translation by Francis Browne (February 2005)
Contributed by Francis Browne (February 2005)

Cantata BWV 24: Recordings | Discussions
German Text | Translations: Dutch | English-1 | English-6 | French-1 | French-3 | French-4 | Hebrew-1 | Indonesia | Italian-2 | Italian-4 | Russian-1 | Spanish-2

Cantata BWV 45: Complete Recordings | Recordings of Individual Movements | Discussions
German Text | Translations: Dutch-4 | English-1 | English-3 | English-6 | French-1 | French-4 | Hebrew-1 | Indonesian | Italian-4 | Russian-1 | Spanish-4

Cantata BWV 71: Complete Recordings | Recordings of Individual Movements | Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2
German Text | Translations: Dutch-3 | English-1 | English-3 | English-5 | English-6 | French-1 | French-3 | French-4 | Hebrew-1 | Hebrew-3 | Indonesian | Italian-5 | Russian-1 | Spanish-2

Chorales BWV 250-438
Recordings | General Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Chorales in Bach Cantatas: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Hidden Chorale Melody Allusions | Passion Chorale
Individual Recordings: Hilliard - Morimur | Chorales - Matt | Chorales - Rilling | Preludi ai Corali - Quartetto Italiani di Viola Da Gamba
References: Chorales BWV 250-300 | Chorales BWV 301-350 | Chorales BWV 351-400 | Chorales BWV 401-438
Texts & English Translations of Chorales: Sorted by Title
Chorale Melodies: Sorted by Title | 371 4-Part Chorales sorted by Breitkopf Number | 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 [Schweitzer] | The Origin of the Melodies of the Chorales [Schweitzer] | The Chorale in the Church Service [Schweitzer] | Choral / Chorale [Terry] | The History of the Breitkopf Collection of J. S. Bach’s Four-Part Chorales [Braatz] | Chorale Melody Allusions in Bach's Vocal Works [Braatz]
Hymnals used by Bach | Abbreviations used for the Chorales | Links to other Sites about the Chorales

Texts & English Translations of Chorales: Sorted by Title