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Discussions: Texts: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Translations: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4


Text for Cantata 116
Du Friedefürst, Herr Jesu Christ

Original German Text

English Translation

1. CHOR

Du Friedefürst, Herr Jesu Christ,
wahr Mensch und wahrer Gott,
ein starker Nothelfer du bist
im Leben und im Tod.
Drum wir allein
im Namen dein
zu deinem Vater schreien.

You, Prince of Peace, Lord Jesus Christ,
true human and true God,
you are a mighty helper in need
in life and in death.
Thus we alone
in your name
cry unto the Father.

2. ARIA (Alt)

Ach, unaussprechlich ist die Not
und des erzürnten Richters Dräuen!
Kaum, daß wir noch in dieser Angst,
wie du, o Jesu, selbst verlangst,
zu Gott in deinem Namen schreien.

Oh, inexpressible is the agony
and the threat of the furious judge!
Hardly, since we are still in such anguish,
though you, O Jesus, yourself require,
can we cry unto God in your name.

3. REZITATIV (Tenor)

Gedenke doch, o Jesu,
daß du noch ein Fürst des Friedens heißest!
Aus Liebe wolltest du dein Wort uns senden.
Will sich dein Herz auf einmal von uns wenden,
der du so große Hülfe sonst beweisest?

But remember, O Jesus,
that you are still named a Prince of Peace!
Out of love you wanted to send us your word.
Will your heart suddenly turn from us,
while you otherwise demonstrate such great aid?

4. ARIA (Sopran, Tenor, Baß)

Ach, wir bekennen unsre Schuld
und bitten nichts als um Geduld
und um dein unermesslich Lieben.
Es brach ja dein erbarmend Herz,
als der Gefallnen Schmerz
dich zu uns in die Welt getrieben.

Alas, we recognize our guilt
and plead for nothing but forbearance
and for your immeasurable love.
Your heart of mercy, yes, burst
when the pain of those fallen
compelled you to the world for us.

5. REZITATIV (Alt)

Ach, laß uns durch die scharfen Ruten
nicht allzu heftig bluten!
O Gott, der du ein Gott der Ordnung bist,
du weißt, was bei der Feinde Grimm
vor Grausamkeit und Unrecht ist.
Wohlan, so strecke deine Hand
auf ein erschreckt geplagtes Land,
die kann der Feinde Macht bezwingen
und uns beständig Friede bringen.

Oh, let us, under the pointed rods
not bleed all too severely!
O God, since you are a God of order
you know how ferocious the enemy is
in gruesomeness and injustice.
So then, thus stretch out your hand
over a frightened and plagued land,
which can conquer the enemy's might
and bring us lasting peace!

6. CHORAL

Erleucht auch unser Sinn und Herz
durch den Geist deiner Gnad,
daß wir nicht treiben draus ein Scherz,
der unsrer Seelen schad.
O Jesu Christ,
allein du bist,
der solchs wohl kann ausrichten.

Enlighten too our mind and heart
through the Spirit of your grace,
that we not wreck a folly of that
which injures our soul.
O Jesus Christ,
you alone are
the one indeed who can put it right.


COMPOSED: November 26, 1724 (Leipzig) for the 25th Sunday after Trinity
LIBRETTIST: unknown; based on the hymn by Jakob Ebert (1601)
TRANSLATION: 2017 © Tobin Schmuck, NYC
Print by permission only, please. Click here.

Cantata BWV 116: Du Friedefürst, Herr Jesu Christ for 25th Sunday after Trinity (1724)
Discography: Details & Complete Recordings | Recordings of Individual Movements
Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5

BWV 116 Text: German-1 | German-6 | German-7 | NBA Text
Translations: English-1 | English-3I | English-3P | English-6 | English-10 | English-14
Catalan-1 | Chinese-2 | Danish-1 | Dutch-0 | Dutch-3 | French-4 | French-5 | French-6 | Hebrew-1 | Hungarian-1 | Indonesian-1 | Italian-2 | Japanese-6 | Norwegian-1 | Polish-1 | Polish-2 | Portuguese-1 | Russian-1 | Russian-3 | Spanish-5 | Spanish-7 | Spanish/English-8
Chorale Text: Du Friedefürst, Herr Jesu Christ [BWV 116/1,~2-5,6]

English Translations (English-10): Index by BWV Number | Index by Title | Index by Event | Note on English Translations


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: Tuesday, December 12, 2023 14:09