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Cantata BWV 120a
Herr Gott, Beherrscher aller Dinge
English Translation in Parallel Format ion
Cantata BWV 120a - Lord God, ruler of all things

Event: Cantata for a Wedding [incomplete in its music, but complete in its text]
Text:

Biblical quotations in green font, chorales in purple

 

Original German Text

 

English Translation

 

Erster Teil

 

First Part (before the wedding)

1

Coro (BGA)

1

Chorus [S, A, T, B]

 

Tromba I-III, Timpani, Oboe d'amore I e Violino I all' unisono, Oboe d'amore II e Violino II all' unisono, Viola, Continuo

 

Herr Gott, Beherrscher aller Dinge,
Der alles hat, regiert und trägt,
Durch den, was Odem hat, sich regt,
Wir alle sind viel zu geringe
Der Güte und Barmherzigkeit,
Womit du uns von Kindesbeinen
Bis auf den Augenblick erfreut.

 

Lord God, ruler of all things,
who possesses, rules and bears everything,
through whom whatever has breath is moved,
all of us are far too insignificant

for the goodness and compassion,
with which from our earliest childhood
up to the present moment you delight us.

       

2

Recitativo B T e Coro

2

Recitative [Bass, Tenor] and Chorus [S, A, T, B]

 

Continuo - Violino I/II, Viola, Continuo

 

Bass:
Wie wunderbar, o Gott, sind deine Werke,
Wie groß ist deine Macht,
Wie unaussprechlich deine Treu!
Du zeigest deiner Allmacht Stärke,
Eh du uns auf die Welt gebracht.
Zur Zeit,
Wenn wir noch gar nichts sein
Und von uns selbst nichts wissen,
Ist deine Liebe und Barmherzigkeit
Vor unser Wohlgedeihn
Aufs eifrigste beflissen;
Der Name und die Lebenszeit
Sind bei dir angeschrieben,
Wenn wir noch im Verborgnen blieben;
Ja, deine Güte ist bereit,
Wenn sie uns auf die Welt gebracht,
Uns bald mit Liebesarmen zu umfassen.
Und dass wir dich nicht aus dem Sinne lassen,
So wird uns deine Güt und Macht
An jedem Morgen neu.
Drum kommt's, da wir dies wissen,
Dass wir von Herzensgrunde rühmen müssen:

 

Bass:
How wonderful, O God , are your works,
how great is your power,
how inexpressible your faithfulness!
You showed your mighty strength,
before you brought us to the world.
At a time,
when we did not yet exist

and knew nothing of ourselves,
your love and compassion

for our welfare
were most keenly concerned;
our name and lifetime

were written down by you,
when we still remained hidden;
Indeed your goodness was ready,
when it had brought us into the world,
to embrace us at once with loving arms.

And so that we do not put you out of our minds,
your goodness and might

are renewed every morning.
It follows therefore since we know this

that we must thank you from the bottom of our hearts:

 

Coro:
Nun danket alle Gott, der große Dinge tut an allen Enden.

 

Chorus:
Now thank the God of all who does great things everywhere.

 

Tenor:
Nun, Herr, es werde diese Lieb und Treu
Auch heute den Verlobten neu;
Und da jetzt die Verlobten beide
Vor dein hochheilig Angesichte treten
Und voller Andacht beten,
So höre sie vor deinem Throne
Und gib zu unsrer Freude,
Was ihnen gut und selig ist, zum Lohne.

 

Tenor:
Now, Lord, may this love and faithfulness
be also renewed today for the betrothed;
and since now both the betrothed

come before your most holy face
and pray full of devotion,
then hear them before your throne

and to our joy give,
what is good and blessed to them as a reward.

       

3

Aria S

3

Aria [Soprano]

 

Violino concertante, Violino I/II, Viola, Continuo

 

Leit, o Gott, durch deine Liebe
Dieses neu verlobte Paar.
Mach an ihnen kräftig wahr,
Was dein Wort uns vorgeschrieben,
Dass du denen, die dich lieben,
Wohltun wollest immerdar.

 

Guide, O God, through your love
this newly betrothed pair.
Make powerfully true for them,
what your word has prescribed for us,
that for those who love you,
you will always do good.

       
 

Zweiter Teil - Nach der Trauung

 

Second Part (after the wedding)

4

Sinfonia

4

Sinfonia

 

Tromba I-III, Timpani, Oboe I e Violino I all' unisono, Oboe II e Violino II all' unisono, Viola, Organo obligato, Continuo

       

5

Recitativo T e Coro

5

Recitative [Tenor] and Chorus [S, A, T, B]

 

Continuo - Violino I/II, Viola, Continuo

 

Herr Zebaoth,
Herr, unsrer Väter Gott,
Erhöre unser Flehn,
Gib deinen Segen und Gedeihn
Zu dieser neuen Ehe,
Dass all ihr Tun in, von und mit dir gehe.
Laß alles, was durch dich geschehen,
In dir gesegnet sein,
Vertreibe alle Not
Und führe die Vertrauten beide
So, wie du willt,
Nur stets zu dir.
So werden diese für und für
Mit wahrer Seelenfreude
Und deinem reichen Segen,
An welchem alles auf der Welt gelegen,
Gesättigt und erfüllt.

 

Lord of Sabaoth,
Lord, God our Father,
hear our plea,
grant your blessing and prosperity

on this new marriage,
so that all their actions may go in, from and with you.
Make everything that happens through you,
be blessed in you,
drive away all distress

and lead the betrothed couple
as you will,
but always to you.
Then forever they will be

with true joy in their souls
and with your rich blessing,
on which everything in the world rests,
Satisfied and fulfilled.
Hear us, dear Lord God.

 

Erhör uns, lieber Herre Gott.

   
       

6

Aria (Duetto) A T

6

Aria (Duet) [Alto, Tenor]

 

Oboe d'amore I/II, Violino I/II, Viola, Continuo

 

Herr, fange an und sprich den Segen
Auf dieses deines Dieners Haus.
Laß sie in deiner Furcht bekleiben,
So werden sie in Segen bleiben;
Erheb auf sie dein Angesichte,
So geht's gewiss in Segen aus.

 

Lord, begin and give your blessing
upon this your servant's house.
In your fear let them be fixed,
then they will remain in your blessing;
Lift up your face upon them,
then they will go along with your blessing.

       

7

Recitativo B

7

Recitative [Bass]

 

Continuo

   
 

Der Herr, Herr unser Gott, sei so mit euch,
Als er mit eurer Väter Schar
Vor diesem und auch jetzo war.
Er pflanz euch Ephraim und dem Manasse gleich.
Er lass euch nicht,
Er zieh nicht von euch seine Hand.
Er neige euer Herz und Sinn
Stets zu ihm hin,
Dass ihr in seinen Wegen wandelt,
In euern Taten weislich handelt.
Sein Geist sei euch stets zugewandt.
Wenn dieses nun geschicht,
So werden alle eure Taten
Nach Wunsch geraten.
Und eurer frommen Eltern Segen
Wird sich gedoppelt auf euch legen.
Wir aber wollen Gott mit Lob und Singen
Ein Dank- und Freudenopfer bringen.

 

May the Lord, Lord our God, be with you,
as he was with the flock of our fathers

before this time and also now.
He plants you as he did Ephraim and Manasseh.
he does not leave you,
he does not take his hand away from you,
he inclines your heart and mind

continually towards him
so that you walk in his way,
act wisely in all you do.
May his spirit to be continually turned towards you.
If this happens

then all that you do
will be according to your wish
and the blessing of your pious parents
shall be doubly laid upon you.
But we shall bring to God with praise and singing

an offering to show our thanks and joy.

       

8

Choral

8

Chorale [S, A, T B]

 

Tromba I-III, Timpani, Oboe I/II e Violino I col Soprano, Violino II coll'Alto, Viola col Tenore, Continuo

  Lobe den Herren, der deinen Stand sichtbar gesegnet,
Der aus dem Himmel mit Strömen der Liebe geregnet.
Denke daran,
Was der Allmächtige kann,
Der dir mit Liebe begegnet.
  Praise the Lord who has clearly blessed your position in life,
Who has rained down from heaven with streams of love.

Think about
what the Almighty can do
Who encounters you with his love.
  Lobe den Herren, was in mir ist, lobe den Namen.
Alles, was Odem hat, lobe mit Abrahams Samen.
Er ist dein Licht,
Seele, vergiss es ja nicht;
Lobende, schließe mit Amen.
 

Praise the Lord, whatever is it me, praise his name.
let everything that has breath give praise with Abraham's seed.
He is your light,
my soul, do not forget this;
giving praise, end with Amen.

       

This Translation in Interlinear Format

English Translation by Francis Browne (June 2008)

Contributed by Francis Browne (June 2008)

Cantata BWV 120a: Herr Gott, Beherrscher aller Dinge for Wedding (1729 ?)
Discography: Details & Complete Recordings | Recordings of Individual Movements
Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

BWV 120a Text: German-1 | German-6 | German-7 | NBA Text
Translations: English-1 | English-3I | English-3P | English-6 | English-10
French-6 | Russian-1 | Russian-3 | Spanish-7

English Translations in Interlinear/Parallel Format (English-3): Sorted by BWV Number | Sorted by Title | Sorted 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: Monday, January 09, 2023 14:22