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Cantata BWV 123
Liebster Immanuel, Herzog der Frommen
English Translation in Interlinear Format
Cantata BWV 123 - Dearest Immanuel

Event: Chorale Cantata for the Feast of Epiphany
Readings: Epistle: Isaah 60: 1-6; Gospel: Matthew 2: 1-12
Text: Ahasverus Fritsch (Mvts. 1, 6): Anon (Mvts. 2-5)
Chorale Text: Liebster Immanuel, Herzog der Frommen

Biblical quotations in green font, chorales in purple

1

Chorus [S, A, T, B]

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

Liebster Immanuel, Herzog der Frommen,
Dearest Immanuel, leader of the righteous,
Du, meiner Seele Heil, komm, komm nur bald!
you, the salvation of my soul, come, come soon!
Du hast mir, höchster Schatz, mein Herz genommen,
You, my greatest treasure, have taken my heart from me
So ganz vor Liebe brennt und nach dir wallt.
so that it burns entirely with love and yearns after you
Nichts kann auf Erden
Nothing on earth can
Mir liebers werden,
be dearer to me
Als wenn ich meinen Jesum stets behalt.
than always to keep my Jesus,

2

Recitative [Alto]

Continuo

Die Himmelssüßigkeit, der Auserwählten Lust
Heaven’s sweetness, the joy of those who are chosen
Erfüllt auf Erden schon mein Herz und Brust,
fills already on earth my heart and breast,
Wenn ich den Jesusnamen nenne
when I recite the name of Jesus
Und sein verborgnes Manna kenne:
and experience its hidden manna:
Gleichwie der Tau ein dürres Land erquickt,
just as the dew gives life to arid land,
So ist mein Herz
so is my heart
Auch bei Gefahr und Schmerz
even in danger and pain
In Freudigkeit durch Jesu Kraft entzückt.
transported into joy through the power of Jesus.

3

Aria [Tenor]

Oboe d'amore I/II, Continuo

Auch die harte Kreuzesreise
Even the hard journey of the cross
Und der Tränen bittre Speise
and the bitter food of tears
Schreckt mich nicht.
do not frighten me.
Wenn die Ungewitter toben,
If the thunderstorm rages,
Sendet Jesus mir von oben
Jesus sends me from above
Heil und Licht.
salvation and light.

4

Recitative [Bass]

Continuo

Kein Höllenfeind kann mich verschlingen,
No enemy from hell can devour me,
Das schreiende Gewissen schweigt.
my clamorous conscience falls silent.
Was sollte mich der Feinde Zahl umringen?
What does it matter how many enemies surround me?
Der Tod hat selbsten keine Macht,
Death itself has no power,
Mir aber ist der Sieg schon zugedacht,
victory is already assured for me
Weil sich mein Helfer mir, mein Jesus, zeigt.
because my Jesus shows himself to be my helper.

5

Aria [Bass]

Flauto traverso, Continuo

Laß, o Welt, mich aus Verachtung
Leave me, O World, with contempt
In betrübter Einsamkeit!
in mournful solitude!
Jesus, der ins Fleisch gekommen
Jesus, who has come in the flesh
Und mein Opfer angenommen,
and accepted my sacrifice
Bleibet bei mir allezeit.
remains with me always.

6

Chorale [S, A, T, B]

Flauto traverso I e Flauto traverso II in octava e Oboe d'amore I/II e Violino I col Soprano, Violino II coll'Alto, Viola col Tenore, Continuo

Drum fahrt nur immer hin, ihr Eitelkeiten,
Therefore go away for ever, you vanities,
Du, Jesu, du bist mein, und ich bin dein;
you, Jesus , you are mine, and I am yours
Ich will mich von der Welt zu dir bereiten;
I want to turn away from the world and make myself ready for you;
Du sollst in meinem Herz und Munde sein.
you must be in my heart and mouth.
Mein ganzes Leben
May my whole life
Sei dir ergeben,
be given to you
Bis man mich einsten legt ins Grab hinein.
until one day I am laid in the grave.

--

This Translation in Parallel Format

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

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 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