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


Durch Adams Fall ist ganz verderbt
Text and Translation of Chorale

EKG: 243
Author: Lazarus Spengler (1524)
Chorale Melody: Durch Adams Fall ist ganz verderbt | Composer: Anon

 

Vocal Works by J.S. Bach:

Ver

Work

Mvt.

Year

Br

RE

KE

Di

BC

Type

 

8

BWV 18

Mvt. 5

1713/15

100
126

73

100

-

F52:1
A44:5

Chorale [S, A, T, B]

 

7

BWV 109

Mvt. 6

1723

-

-

-

-

A151:6

Chorale [S, A, T, B]

 
 
 

German Text (verses in bold print set by Bach)

English Translation

1

Durch Adams Fall ist ganz verderbt
Menschlich Natur und Wesen,
Dasselb Gift ist auf uns errebt,
Daß wir nicht mocht'n genesen
Ohn' Gottes Trost, der uns erlöst
Hat von dem großen Schaden,
Darein die Schlang Eva bezwang,
Gotts Zorn auf sich zu laden.

Through Adam’s fall human nature
and character is completely corrupted,
the same poison has been inherited by us,
so that we would not be able to recover health
without comfort from God, who has redeemed us
from the great harm
that was done when the serpent overcame Eve
and led her to bring God’s wrath upon herself.

2

Weil denn die Schlang Eva hat bracht,
Daß sie ist abgefallen
Von Gottes Wort, welchs sie veracht,
Dadurch sie in uns allen
Bracht hat den Tod, so war je Not,
Daß uns auch Gott sollt geben
Sein lieben Sohn, der Gnaden Thron,
Iin dem wir möchten leben.

Since the time when the serpent brought Eve
to abandon God's word, which she despised,
through her death
was brought on all of us,
so that there was necessity
that God should give to us his dear son,
the throne of grace,
in whom we might live.

3

Wie uns nun hat ein fremde Schuld
In Adam all verhöhnet,
Also hat uns ein fremde Huld
In Christo all versöhnet;
Und wie mir all durch Adams Fall
Sind ewigs Tods gestorben,
Also hat Gott durch Christi Tod
Verneut, was war verdorben.

Just as another's guilt has brought us
shame in Adam,
so another's grace in Christ has brought us
all reconciliation;
and just as for me through Adams fall
everything perished eternally in death,
so God through Christ's death
has renewed what was ruined.

4

So er uns deen sein Sohn geschenkt,
Da wir sein Feind noch waren,
Der für uns ist ans Kreuz gehenkt,
Getöt, gen Himmel g'fahren,
Dadurch wir sein von Tod und Pein
Erlöst, so wir vertrauen
In diesen Hort, des Vaters Wort,
Wem wollt vor Sterben grauen?

He therefore gave his son to us,
while we were still his enemies.
For our sake he hung on the cross,
was put to death and went to heaven.
By this means we have been redeemed from death and suffering.
If we place our trust in this stronghold,
the Father's word,
why should anyone have any horror of death?

5

Er ist der Weg, das Licht, die Pfort,
Die Wahrheit und das Leben,
Des Vaters Rat und ewigs Wort,
Den er uns hat gegeben
Zu einem Schutz, daß wir mit Trutz
An ihn fest sollen glauben,
Darum uns bald kein Macht noch G'walt
Aus seiner Hand wird rauben.

He is the way, the light, the gate,
the truth and the life,
the father's counsel and eternal Word,
that he has given to us as protection,
so that with bold confidence
we may believe firmly in him
and for this reason no force nor might
will snatch us from his hand.

6

Der Mensch ist gottlos und verflucht,
Sein Heil ist auch noch ferne,
Der Trost bei einem Menschen sucht
Und nicht bei Gott dem Herren;
Denn wer ihm will ein ander Ziel
Ohn' diesen Tröster stecken,
Den mag gar bald des Teufels G'walt
Mit seiner List erschrecken.

Mankind is godless and cursed,
his salvation is still distant,
he looks for comfort from men
and not from God the Lord;
for if anyone who sets a different goal
without this comforter,
the Devil’s might and cunning
can very soon terrify him.

7

Wer hofft in Gott und dem vertraut,
Wird nimmermehr zu Schanden;
Denn wer auf diesen Felsen baut,
Ob ihm gleich geht zuhanden
Wie Unfalls hie, hab ich doch nie
Den Menschen sehen fallen,
Der sich verläßt auf Gottes Trost,
Er hilft sein Gläub'gen allen.

Who hopes in God and places his trust in him
will never be put to shame.
For if anyone who builds on this rock,
even if something occurs here
that seems like misfortune,
I have never seen anyone fall
who relies on God's comfort,
he helps all those who believe.

8

Ich bitt o Herr, aus Herzensgrund,
Du wollst nicht von mir nehmen
Dein heilges Wort aus meinem Mund,
So wird mich nicht beschämen
Mein Sünd und Schuld, denn in dein Huld,
Setz ich all mein Vertrauen;
Wer sich nur fest darauf verläßt,
Der wird den Tod nicht schauen
.

I pray, o Lord, from the depths of my heart
that you may not take from me
your holy word from out of my mouth;

so will I not be put to shame by
my sin and guilt, since in your grace

I place all my trust.
Whoever relies firmly on this alone
will never look on death.

9

Mein Füßen ist dein heilges Wort
Ein brennende Luzerne,
Ein Licht, das mir den Weg weist fort;
So dieser Morgensterne
In uns aufgeht, so bald versteht
Der Mensch die hohen Gaben,
Die Gottes Geist den g'wiß verheißt,
Die Hoffnung darein haben.

For my feet your holy word
is a blazing lantern,
a light that shows me the way forward;
as this morning Star
rises upon us we understand
the great gifts
that God's spirit has certainly promised to us,
and in these we have our hope.

--

   

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

Cantata BWV 18: Complete Recordings | Recordings of Individual Movements | Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2
German Text | German-2 | Translations: Dutch-1 | English-1 | English-3 | English-6 | French-1 | French-3 | French-4 | French-6 | Hebrew-1 | Indonesian | Italian-4 | Russian-1 | Spanish-3

Cantata BWV 109: Complete Recordings | Recordings of Individual Movements | Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2
German Text | Translations: Dutch-4 | English-1 | English-3 | English-6 | French-4 | French-6 | Hebrew-1 | Indonesian | Italian | Russian-1 | Spanish-3


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

Texts & English Translations of Chorales: Sorted by Title

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: Friday, June 02, 2017 03:51