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Text for Cantata 123
Liebster Immanuel, Herzog der Frommen

Original German Text

English Translation

1. CHOR

Liebster Immanuel, Herzog der Frommen,
du, meiner Seele Heil, komm, komm nur bald!
Du hast mir, höchster Schatz, mein Herz genommen,
so ganz vor Liebe brennt und nach dir wallt.
Nichts kann auf Erden
mir liebers werden,
als wenn ich meinen Jesum stets behalt.

Dearest Immanuel, duke of the devout,
you, my soul’s salvation, come, come but quickly!
You, greatest treasure, have seized my heart,
so completely burning and boiling in love for you.
Nothing upon earth could
be more preferable to me,
than holding on to my Jesus.

2. REZITATIV (Alt)

Die Himmelssüßigkeit, der Auserwählten Lust
erfüllt auf Erden schon mein Herz und Brust,
wenn ich den Jesusnamen nenne
und sein verborgnes Manna kenne:
gleichwie der Tau ein dürres Land erquickt,
so ist mein Herz auch bei Gefahr und Schmerz
in Freudigkeit durch Jesu Kraft entzückt.

The sweetness of heaven, the desire of the chosen
has already suffused my heart and bosom on earth
when I call the name of Jesus
and distinguish his hidden manna:
just like the dew quenches a barren land,
so is my heart even midst peril or pain
enraptured with happiness by Jesus power.

3. ARIA (Tenor)

Auch die harte Kreuzesreise
und der Tränen bittre Speise
schreckt mich nicht.
Wenn die Ungewitter toben,
sendet Jesus mir von oben
Heil und Licht.

Even the arduous journey to the cross
and the bitter fare of tears
does not frighten me.
When violent storms rage
Jesus delivers to me from above
healing and light.

4. REZITATIV (Baß)

Kein Höllenfeind kann mich verschlingen,
das schreiende Gewissen schweigt.
Was sollte mich der Feinde Zahl umringen?
Der Tod hat selbsten keine Macht,
mir aber ist der Sieg schon zugedacht,
weil sich mein Helfer mir, mein Jesus, zeigt.

No fiend of hell can devour me,
the clamoring conscience remains silent.
What if the enemy numbers encircle me?
Death itself has no might,
victory however is already destined for me
as my helper, my Jesus, shows me.

5. ARIA (Baß)

Laß, o Welt, mich aus Verachtung
in betrübter Einsamkeit!
Jesus, der ins Fleisch gekommen
und mein Opfer angenommen,
bleibet bei mir allezeit.

Leave me, O world, by your contempt
in dismal reclusion!
Jesus, who has come in the flesh
and accepts my offering
remains always beside me.

6. CHORAL

Drum fahrt nur immer hin, ihr Eitelkeiten,
du, Jesu, du bist mein, und ich bin dein;
ich will mich von der Welt zu dir bereiten;
du sollst in meinem Herz und Munde sein.
Mein ganzes Leben
sei dir ergeben,
bis man mich einsten legt ins Grab hinein.

Thus simply go away, you vanities,
you, Jesus, you are mine, and I am yours;
I will prepare myself to depart the world for you;
you shall be in my heart and mouth.
My entire life
be dedicated to you,
until finally I am laid in the grave.


COMPOSED: January 6, 1745 (Leipzig) for Epiphany
LIBRETTIST: unknown, based on the hymn by Ahasverus Fritsch (1679)
TRANSLATION: 2017 © Tobin Schmuck, NYC
Print by permission only, please. Click here.

Cantata BWV 123: Liebster Immanuel, Herzog der Frommen for Feast of Epiphany (1725)
Discography: Details & Complete Recordings | Recordings of Individual Movements
Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

BWV 123 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-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 | Russian-1 | Russian-3 | Spanish-5 | Spanish-7 | Spanish/English-8
Chorale Text: Liebster Immanuel, Herzog der Frommen [BWV 123/1,~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