Chorale: Wär Gott nicht mit uns diese Zeit
Singable English Translation of the Chorale

EKG: 192
Author: Martin Luther (1524), based the German verse-form version of Psalm 124
English: Traditional

Chorale Melody 1: Wo Gott der Herr nicht bei uns hält | Composer: Anon (1529)

Vocal Works by J.S. Bach:

Ver

Work

Mvt.

Year

Br

RE

KE

Di

BC

Type

-

BWV 257

-

?

284

388

285

61

F212:2

Chorale [S, A, T, B]

Chorale Melody 2: Wär Gott nicht mit uns diese Zeit | Composer: ()

Vocal Works by J.S. Bach:

Ver

Work

Mvt.

Year

Br

RE

KE

Di

BC

Type

1

BWV 14

Mvt. 1

1735

-

-

-

-

A40:1

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

2~

BWV 14

Mvt. 2

1735

-

-

-

-

A40:2

Aria [S]

2~

BWV 14

Mvt. 3

1735

-

-

-

-

A40:3

Recitative [T]

2~

BWV 14

Mvt. 4

1735

-

-

-

-

A40:4

Aria B]

3

BWV 14

Mvt. 5

1735

182

330

182

128

F188
A40:5

Chorale [S, A, T, B]

German Text (verses in bold print set by Bach)

English Translation

1

Wär' Gott nicht mit uns diese Zeit,
So soll Israel sagen:
Wär' Gott nicht mit uns diese Zeit,
Wir hätten musst verzagen,
Die so ein armes Häuflein sind,
Veracht' vor so viel Menschenkind,
Die an uns setzen Alle.

If God had not been on our side
And had not come to aid us,
The foe with all his pow’r and pride
Would surely have dismayed us;
For we, God’s flock, would have to fear
The threat of foes both far and near
Who rise in might against us.

2

3

--

English Translation by Alexandra Glynn (February 2010)
Contributed by Alexandra Glynn (February 2010)

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