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O Herre Gott, dein göttlichs Wort
Text and Translation of Chorale

EKG: 117
Author: Anarg von Wildenfels (1526)
Chorale Melody: O Herre Gott, dein göttlich(s) Wort | Composer: Anon (1526)

 

Vocal Works by J.S. Bach:

Ver

Work

Mvt.

Year

Br

RE

KE

Di

BC

Type

 

8

BWV 184

Mvt. 5

1724

14

283

14

15

F:159
A88:5

Chorale [S, A, T, B]

 
 
 

German Text (verses in bold print set by Bach)

English Translation

1

O Herre Gott, dein göttlich Wort
Ist lang verdunkelt blieben,
Bis durch dein' Gnad' uns ist gesagt,
Was Paulus hat geschrieben
Und andere Apostel mehr
Aus dein'm göttlichen Munde;
Des danken wir mit Fleiss, dass wir
Erlebet hab'n die Stunde.

O Lord God, your divine word
was for a long time obscured
until through your grace we were told
what Paul has written
and many other apostles
from your divine mouth;
therefore we diligently give thanks that we
have experienced this instruction.

2

Dass es mit Macht an' Tag ist bracht,
Wie klärlich ist vor Augen.
Ach Gott, mein Herr, erbarm dich der',
Die dich noch jetzt verleugnen
Und achten sehr auf Menschenlehr,
Darin sie doch verderben.
Deins Worts Verstand mach ihn' bekannt,
Dass sie nicht ewig sterben.

That your word is powerfully brought to light
how clearly is before our eyes.
Ah God, my Lord, have pity on those
who still deny you
and pay much attention to human learning,
and thereby come to ruin.
Let them come to know the sense of your word
so that they do not perish for ever.

3

Willst du nun fein gut Christe sein,
So musst du erstlich glauben:
Setz dein Vertraun, - darauf fest bau
Hoffnung und Lieb' im Glauben!-
Allein auf Christ zu aller Frist,
Dein'n Nächsten lieb daneben;
Das G'wissen frei, rein Herz dabei
Kein' Kreatur kann geben.

If you want to be a really good Christian,
then you must above all have faith:
place your trust - in this way firmly base
hope and love in faith -
only in Jesus at all times,
and love your neighbour as well;
a clear conscience and a pure heart
are things that nothing in creation can give.

4

Allein, Herr, du musst solches tun
Doch ganz aus lauter Gnaden;
Wer sich des tröst't, der ist erlöst,
Und kann ihm niemand schaden.
Ob wollten gleich Papst, Kaiser, Reich
Sie und dein Wort vertreiben,
Ist doch ihr' Macht geg'n dich nichts g'acht't,
Sie werden's lassen bleiben.

Only you, Lord, have to do such a deed
as an act of pure mercy.
Whoever is consoled by this is redeemed
and nobody can harm him.
Even if the papists, rulers, empires wanted
to drive out you and your word,
their power against you is worthless,
they will have to leave things alone.

5

Hilf, Herre Gott, in dieser Not,
Dass sich die auch bekehren,
Die dich nicht sehn, dein' Namen schmähn,
Dein Wort nicht wollen lehren.
Sie sprechen schlecht, es sei nicht recht,
Und habens nicht gelesen,
Auch nie gehört das edle Wort-.
Ists nicht ein teuflich Wesen?

Help, Lord God, in this trouble
so that those people may be converted
who do not see you, who vilify your name,
are unwilling to learn your word
They speak amiss when they say it is not right,
and they have never read,
never even heard your noble word –
Are not such people diabolical

6

Ich glaub ganz gar, das es sei wahr
Was Paulus uns tut schreiben:
Es muss geschehen, das als vergehe,
Dein göttlichs Wort soll bleiben
In Ewigkeit, wer es schon Leid
Viel harten verstockten Herzen:
Kehren sie nicht um, wie wird am drum
Der Teufel mit ihn scherzen.

I fully believe that it is true
what Paul has written for us:
it must happen that everything passes away,
your divine word will remain
for eternity,though of course it is sorrow
to hearts hardened in impenitence:
unless they change their direction
what mockery will the devil make of them.

7

Gott ist mein Herr, so bin ich der,
Dem Sterben kommt zugute,
Weil du uns hast aus aller Last
Erlöst mit deinem Blute.
Das dank' ich dir, drum wirst du mir
Nach dein'r Verheissung geben,
Was ich dich bitt'; versag mir's nicht
Im Tod und auch im Leben!

God is my Lord, therefore I am one of those
for whom death is an advantage,
since from every burden
you have freed us with your blood.
I give you thanks that you will
according to your promise give me
what I ask you for: do not refuse me
in death and also in life!

8

Herr, ich hoff je, du werdest die
In keiner Not verlassen,
Die dein Wort recht als treue Knecht
In Herz und Glauben fassen:
Gibst ihn' bereit die Seligkeit
Und lässt sie nicht verderben.
O Herr, durch dich, bitt ich, lass mich
Fröhlich und willig sterben.

Lord, I hope that you will
in no trouble abandon
those who as true servants righttly
keep your word in heart and in faith:
grant that blessedness be prepared for them
and do not let them perish.
Oh Lord, through you I pray,let me
die joyfully and willingly

--

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

Cantatas BWV 184 & BWV 184a: Complete Recordings of BWV 184 | Recordings of Individual Movements from BWV 184 | Details of BWV 184a | Discussions
BWV 184:
German Text | Translations: Chinese-1 | Dutch | English-1 | English-3 | English-6 | French-4 | French-6 | Hebrew-1 | Indonesian | Italian-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




 

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Last update: Friday, June 02, 2017 03:58