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Chorale: Aus tiefer Not schrei ich zu dir
Singable English Translation of the Chorale
From depths of woe I cry to Thee

Words: Martin Luther 1524, based on Ps. 130
English: Catherine Winkworth 1863
Finnish Title: Sua syvyydestä avuks (Virsi 267 in the 1986 Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Church's Hymnbook)
Chorale Melody 1: Aus tiefer Not schrei ich zu dir (I) | Composer: Martin Luther (1524)
Chorale Melody 2: Aus tiefer Not schrei ich zu dir (II) | Composer: Wolfgang Dachstein (1525)
Bach Works: BWV 38

 
 

Original German Text

Singable English Translation

1

Aus tiefer Not schrei' ich zu dir,
Herr Gott, erhoer' mein Rufen,
Dein gnädig' Ohren kehr zu mir,
Und meiner Bitt' sie öffnen!
Denn so du willst das sehen an,
Was Sünd' und Unrecht ist getan,
Wer kann, Herr, vor dir bleiben?

From depths of woe I cry to thee,
Lord, hear me, I implore thee.
Bend down thy gracious ear to me,
my prayer let come before thee.
If thou rememb’rest each misdeed,
if each should have its rightful meed,
who may abide thy presence?

2

Bei dir gilt nichts denn Gnad' und Gunst
Die Sünde zu vergeben;
Es ist doch unser Tun umsonst,
Auch in dem besten Leben.
Vor dir Niemand sich rühmen kann,
Des muß dich fürchten jedermann
Und deiner Gnade leben.

Thy love and grace alone avail
to blot out my transgression;
the best and holiest deeds must fail
to break sin’s dread oppression.
Before thee none can boasting stand,
but all must fear thy strict demand
and live alone by mercy.

3

Darum auf Gott will hoffen ich,
Auf mein Verdienst nicht bauen;
Auf ihn mein Herz soll laßen sich,
Und seiner Güte trauen,
Die mir zusagt sein wertes Wort,
Das ist mein Trost und treuer Hort,
Des will ich allzeit harren.

Therefore my hope is in the Lord
and not in mine own merit;
it rests upon his faithful Word
to those of contrite spirit.
That he is merciful and just,
this is my comfort and my trust.
His help I wait with patience.

4

Und ob es währt bis in die Nacht
Und wieder an den Morgen,
Doch soll mein Herz an Gottes Macht
Verzweifeln nicht noch sorgen,
So thu' Israel rechter Art,
Der aus dem Geist erzeuget ward,
Und seines Gott's erharre.

And though it tarry till the night
and till the morning waken,
my heart shall never doubt his might
nor count itself forsaken.
Do thus, O ye of Israel’s seed,
ye of the Spirit born indeed;
wait for your God’s appearing.

5

Ob bei uns ist der Sünden viel,
Bei Gott ist viel mehr Gnade;
Sein' Hand zu helfen hat kein Ziel,
Wie groß auch sei der Schade.
Er ist allein der gute Hirt,
Der Israel erlösen wird
Aus seinen Sünden allen.

Though great our sins and sore our woes,
His grace much more aboundeth;
His helping love no limit knows,
our utmost need it soundeth.
Our Shepherd good and true is he,
who will at last his Israel free
from all their sin and sorrow.

--

Contributed by Alexandra Glynn (November 2009)

Singable English Translations of Chorales: Sorted by Title


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




 

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