Chorale: Erschienen ist der herrlich Tag

Erschienen ist der herrlich Tag
Text and Translation of Chorale

EKG: 80
Author: Nicolaus Herman (1560)
Chorale Melody: Erschienen ist der herrlich Tag | Composer: Nicolaus Herman (1560)

Vocal Works:

Ver

Work

Mvt.

Year

Type

BWV 67

Mvt. 4

1724

A62:4

Chorale [S, A, T, B]

BWV 145

Mvt. 5

1729 or later

17
Anh 1

A60:5

Chorale [S, A, T, B]

German Text
[verses in bold print set by Bach]

English Translation
[Quite faithful verse translation]

English Translation
[Roughly literal translation]

Erschienen ist der herrlich Tag,
dran sich niemand gnug freuen mag;
Christ, unser Herr, heut triumphiert,
all seine Feind gefangen führt.
Halleluja!

Here shining is the splendid day.
More joy than we have words to say.
Christ our Lord has triumphed now,
and leads in captive every foe.
Hallelujah!

Appeared is the splendid day
on which no one can rejoice enough;
Christ, our Lord, today triumphs,
all his enemies captive leads.
Hallelujah!

Die alte Schlang, die Sünd und Tod,
die Höll, all Jammer, Angst und Not
hat überwunden Jesus Christ,
der heut vom Tod erstanden ist.
Halleluja!

The Ancient Snake, Hell, sin and Death,
all misery, deep need, and dread
have mortal wounds from Jesus Christ
who now from death arisen is.
Hallelujah!

The old snake, sin, and death,
Hell, all misery, anxiety, and need
Jesus Christ has mortally wounded,
who today is arisen from death.
Hallelujah!

Am Sabbat früh mit Spezerei
kamen zum Grab der Weiber drei,
dass sie salbten Marien Sohn,
der vom Tod war erstanden schon.
Halleluja!

On Sunday, early with their spice
three women sought Christ’s burial place
to salve the body of Mary’s Son
(who from death was already ris’n).
Hallelujah!

On Sunday early with spices
came to the grave the three women
so that they might annoint Mary’s son,
who from death was already arisen.
Hallelujah!

Wen sucht ihr da? Der Engel sprach,
Christ ist erstanden, der hie lag;
hie sehet ihr die Schweißtüchlein,
geht hin, sagts bald den Jüngern sein.
Halleluja!

"Whom seek ye here?" the angel said,
"Christ is arisen, who here lay.
See, here’s the cloth that held his head.
Tell his disciples: go and say
Hallelujah!"

Whom seek ye there, the Angel spoke,
Christ is arisen, who here lay;
here see the napkin/kerchief,
go forth, tell quickly his disciples.
Hallelujah!

Der Jünger Furcht und Herzeleid
wird heut verkerhrt in eitel Freud;
sobald sie nur den Herren sahn,
verschwand ihr Trauren, Furcht und Zagn.
Halleluja!

Disciples’ fears and aching hearts
are now just joy, their pain departs.
'Soon as their Lord to them appears,
away fly worry, grief, and fears.
Hallelujah!

The disciples’ fear and heart hurt
becomes today turned into only joy;
as soon as they the Lord saw
disappeared their sorrow, fear, and hesitation.
Hallelujah!

Der Herr hielt ein sehr freundlich G'spräch
mit zweien Jüngern auf dem Weg;
vor Freud das Herz in Leib ihn brannt,
im Brotbrechen ward er erkannt.
Halleluja!

On highway Christ holds friendly talk
with two disciples as they walk.
Their hearts with recognition burn
as breaking bread their hearts discern.
Hallelujah!

The Lord holds a very friendly conversation
with two disciples on the road;
for joy their hearts in body burned,
in breaking of bread he became known.
Hallelujah!

Unser Simson, der treue Held
Christus, den starken Löwen fällt,
der Höllen Pforten er hinträgt,
dem Teufel all Gewalt erlegt.
Halleluja!

Our Samson’s Christ, the hero true.
Christ lays the mighty lion low.
The gates of Hell he hauls away
and all of Satan’s power destroys.
Hallelujah!

Our Samson, the true hero
Christ, fells/slays the strong lion,
the gates of hell he carries away,
against the devil all (the devil’s)
power puts down/slays.
Hallelujah!

Jonas im Walfisch war drei Tag,
so lang Christus im Grab auch lag,
denn länger ihn der Tod kein Stund
in seim [seinem] Rachen behalten kunnt.
Halleluja!

Jonah was three days in the whale.
So long could grave keep Christ in jail,
Death could not for a single hour
more hold him in its gullet’s power.
Hallelujah!

Jonah in the whalefish was three days.
So long also lay Christ in the grave,
for Death him not one hour longer
in his jaws/gullet could hold.
Hallelujah!

Sein Raub der Tod mußt geben her,
das Leben siegt und ward sein Herr,
zerstört ist nun all seine Macht,
Christ hat das Leben wieder bracht.
Halleluja!

What Death stole, Death must now give back.
Life wins: Death has the shackled neck.!
Death’s awful power is turned to naught.
Christ back from bondage LIFE has brought!
Hallelujah!

His [Death’s] booty/spoils Death
had to give forth/back,
Life wins and becomes Death’s master,
destroyed is now all Death’s might;
Christ has brought Life back again.
Hallelujah!

Heut gehen wir aus Ägyptenland,
aus Pharaonis Dienst und Band,
und das recht Osterlämmelein
wir essen heut im Brot und Wein.
Halleluja!

Today we go from Egypt’s land,
no longer Pharaoh’s to command,
and the Passover’s own true Lamb
we eat today in bread and wine.
Hallelujah!

Today we go out of Egypt’s land,
out of Pharaoh’s service and bondage,
and the true Passover/Easter lamb
we eat today in bread and wine.
Hallelujah!

Auch essen wir die süßen Brot,
die Moses Gottes Volk gebot;
kein Sauerteig soll bei uns sein,
daß wir von Sünden leben rein.
Halleluja!

For food, now sweetest bread we have
that Moses to God’s people gave.
No sour leaven shall remain,
so we can stay from sinning clean.
Hallelujah!

Also we eat the sweet bread
that Moses gave to God’s people.
No sour dough/leaven shall be with us
so that we from sins/sinning live
pure/free. / Hallelujah!

Der Würgengel vorüber geht,
kein Erstgeburt er bei uns schlägt;
unsre Thürschwell hat Christi Blut
bestrichen, das hält uns in Hut.
Halleluja!

Death’s vengeful angel passes by,
no firstborn in our house must die.
Our thresholds all have Jesus’ blood
smeared there to show that God’s our shield.
Hallelujah!

The destroyer angel passes over,
kills no firstborn among us;
our threshholds have Christ’s blood
smeared, which holds us in protection.
Hallelujah!

Die Sonn, die Erd, all Kreatur
und was betrübet war zuvor,
das freut sich heut an diesem Tag,
da der Welt Fürst darnieder lag.
Halleluja!

The sun, the earth, each living thing,
all that before was still grieving
today rejoices in This Day
when the world’s tyrant beaten lay.
Hallelujah!

The sun, the earth, all creatures
and what was grieving before
today rejoices at this day [when]
that the world’s prince was laid low.
Hallelujah!

Drum wir auch billig fröhlich sein,
singen das Hallelujah fein
und loben dich, Herr Jesu Christ,
zu Trost du uns erstanden bist.
Halleluja!

Therefore we burden-free are glad
and shout and sing out: Praise the Lord,
sing praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ.
for your arising our hope is!
Hallelujah!

Therefore we also are "fairly" / unburdenedly happy.
We sing the Hallelujah finely
and praise Thee, Lord Jesus Christ,
that for our comfort you are arisen.
Hallelujah!

Both English Translations (verse & literal) by Paul Farseth (2002-2003)
Contributed by Paul Farseth (February 2007)

Texts & English Translations of Chorales: Sorted by Title

Back to the Top

Last update: ýJuly 7, 2008 ý01:30:50