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


Ach Gott, wie manches Herzeleid
Text and Translation of Chorale

EKG: 286
Author: Martin Moller (1587)
Chorale Melody: Herr Jesu Christ, meins Lebens Licht II | Composer:Anon (c1455)

 

Vocal Works by J.S. Bach:

Ver

Work

Mvt.

Year

Br

RE

KE

Di

BC

Type

 

1

BWV 3

Mvt. 1

1725

-

-

-

-

A33:1

Chorus (Chorale)

 

2

BWV 3

Mvt. 2

1725

-

-

-

-

A33:2

Recitative & Chorale

 

3-7

BWV 3

Mvt. 3

1725

-

-

-

-

A33:3

Aria

 

10

BWV 3

Mvt. 4

1725

-

-

-

-

A33:4

Recitative

 

15-16

BWV 3

Mvt. 5

1725

-

-

-

-

A33:5

Aria (Duet)

 

18

BWV 3

Mvt. 6

1725

156, 307

8

156, 308

28

A33:6

Chorale

 

1

BWV 44

Mvt. 4

1724

-

-

-

-

A78:4

Chorale

 

1

BWV 58

Mvt. 1

1727

-

-

-

-

A26:1

Aria w/ Chorale

 

16-18

BWV 153

Mvt. 9

1724

217

9

217

-

A25:8

Chorale

 
 
 

German Text (verses in bold print set by Bach)

English Translation

1

Ach Gott, wie manches Herzeleid
begegnet mir zu dieser Zeit!
Der schmale Weg ist trübsalsvoll,
den ich zum Himmel wandern soll.

Ah God, how many a heartache
I meet with in this time!
The narrow way is full of affliction
by which I must travel to heaven.

2

Wie schwerlich läßt sich Fleisch und Blut
zwingen zu dem ewigen gut!
Wo soll ich mich denn wenden hin?
Zu dir, Herr Jesu, steht mein Sinn.

With what difficulty are flesh and blood
compelled to seek the everlasting good!
Where then should I turn?
By you, Lord Jesus,my thoughts stand.

3

Bei dir mein Herz Trost, Hilf und Rat
allzeit gewiß gefunden hat;
niemand jemals verlassen ist,
der getraut hat auf Jesum Christ.

With you my heart has always
certainly found comfort, help and counsel;
nobody has ever been forsaken
who has trusted Jesus Christ.

4

Du bist der große Wundermann,
das zeigt dein Amt und dein Person.
Welch Wundering hat man erfahr'n,
da du, mein Gott, bist Mensch gebor'n.

You are the great miracle-worker,
this reveals your office and your person.
What amazement we have to learn
that you , my God have been born as a man.

5

Und führest mich durch deinen Tod
ganz wunderlich aus aller Not!
Jesu, mein Herr und Gott allein,
wie süß ist mir der name dein!

And through your death you lead me
most marvellously out of all distress!
Jesus, my only Lord and God,
how sweet is your name to me!

6

Es kann kein Trauern sein so schwer,
dein süßer Nam' er freut viel mehr;
kein Elend mag so bitter sein,
dein süßer Nam'der lindert's sein.

No grief can be so heavy
that your sweet name does not give more delight
no misery could be so bitter
that it is not soothed by your sweet name.

7

Ob mir gleich Leib und Seel' verschmacht't,
so weißt du, Herr, daß ich's nicht acht'.
Wenn ich dich hab', so hab ich wohl,
was mich ewig erfreuen soll.

Although my body and soul both languish,
you know, Lord, that I do not care.
If I have you , then I indeed have
what will delight me for ever.

8

Dein bin ich ja mit Leib und Seel',
was kann mir tun Sünd', Tod und Höll'?
Kein' beßre Treu' auf Erden ist
denn nur bei dir, Herr Jesu Christ.

If I am yours body and soul,
what can sin death and hell do to me?
There is no greater faithfulness on earth
than there is in you alone, Lord Jesus Christ

9

Ich weiß, daß du mich nicht verläßt,
dein Wahrheit bleibt mir ewig fest.
Du bist mein rechter, treuer Hirt,
der ewig mich behüten wird.

I know that you do not forsake me,
your truth remains firmly for me for ever.
You are my true, faithful shepherd,
who will always protect me.

10

Jesu, mein' Freud', mein' Ehr'und Ruhm,
mein's Herzens Schatz und mein Reichtum,
ich kann's ja doch nicht zeigen an,
wie hoch dein Nam' erfreuen kann.

Jesus, my joy, my honour and glory,
my heart’s treasure and my riches,
I simply cannot indicate
what great delight your name can give.

11

Wer Glaub' und Lieb' im Herzen hat,
der wird's erfahren in der Tat,
drum hab' ich oft und viel gered't:
Wenn ich an dir nicht Freude hätt.

Anyone who has faith and love in their heart
will know this through experience,
therefore I have said again and again:
…what if I did not have delight in you.

12

So wollt' den Tod ich wünschen her,
ja daß ich nie geboren wär';
denn wer dich nicht im Herzen hat,
der ist gewiß lebendig tot.

Then I would wish for death,
that I had never been born;
for anybody who does not have you in his heart
is certainly living dead.

13

Jesu, du edler Bräutgam wert,
mein'höchste Zier auf dieser Erd',
an dir allein ich mich ergötz
weit über alle güldnen Schätz.

Jesus, you noble bridegroom,
my greatest glory on this earth,
in you alone do I take delight,
far above all gilded treasures.

14

Sooft ich nur gedenk' an dich,
all mein Gemüt erfreuet sich;
wenn ich mein' Hoffnung stell' zu dir,
so fühl' ich Fried und Trost in mir.

Whenever I just think of you,
all my spirit rejoices;
if I place my hope in you,
then I feel peace and consolation within me.

15

Wenn ich Nöten bet' und sing',
so wird mein Herz recht guter Ding'.
Dein Geist bezeugt, daß solches frei
des ew'gen Lebens Vorschmack sei.

When I pray and sing about my troubles,
then my heart becomes something truly good.
Your Spirit attests that such an experience
is a foretaste of eternal life.

16

Drum will ich, weil ich lebe noch,
das Kreuz dir willig tragen nach.
Mein Gott, mach' mich dazu bereit,
es dient zum Besten' allezeit.

Therefore I want, while I still live,
to bear the cross joyfully after you;
my God, make me ready to do this,
it is always for the best!

17

Hilf mir mein' Sach' recht greifen an,
daß ich den Lauf vollenden kann;
Hilf mir auch zwingen Fleisch und Blut,
vor Sünd Schanden mich behüt'!

Help me to deal rightly with my situation
so that I can accomplish my course,
help me also to master my flesh and blood,
protect me from sin and shame!

18

18. Erhalt mein Herz im Glauben rein,
so leb' und sterb' ich dir allein.
Jesu, mein Trost hör' mein' Begier:
o mein Heiland, wär' ich bei dir!

Keep my heart pure in faith
so I may live and die for you alone.
Jesus, my comfort, hear my desire,
o my Saviour , I want to be with you.

--

English Translation by Francis Browne (January 2006)
Contributed by Francis Browne (January 2006)

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

Cantata BWV 44: Complete Recordings | Recordings of Individual Movements | Discussions
German Text | German-2 | Translations: Chinese-1 | Dutch | English-1 | English-3 | English-6 | French-1 | French-4 | French-6 | Hebrew-1 | Indonesian | Italian-2 | Italian-4 | Russian-1 | Spanish-4

Cantata BWV 58: Complete Recordings | Recordings of Individual Movements | Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2
German Text | German-2 | Translations: Dutch | English-1 | English-3 | English-6 | French-4 | French-6 | Hebrew-1 | Indonesian | Italian-5 | Portuguese-1 | Russian-1 | Spanish-2

Cantata BWV 153: Complete Recordings | Recordings of Individual Movements | Discussions
German Text | Translations: Dutch | English-1 | English-3 | English-6 | French-4 | French-6 | Hebrew-1 | Indonesian | Italian-2 | Russian-1 | Spanish-2 | 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 03:53