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Cantata BWV 123
Liebster Immanuel, Herzog der Frommen
English Translation in Parallel 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

 

Original German Text

 

English Translation

1

Coro

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,
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, leader of the righteous,
you, the salvation of my soul, come, come soon!
You, my greatest treasure, have taken my heart from me

so that it burns entirely with love and yearns after you
Nothing on earth can
be dearer to me
than always to keep my Jesus,

       

2

Recitativo A

2

Recitative [Alto]

 

Continuo

   
 

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.

 

Heaven’s sweetness, the joy of those who are chosen
fills already on earth my heart and breast,

when I recite the name of Jesus
and experience its hidden manna:
just as the dew gives life to arid land,
so is my heart
even in danger and pain
transported into joy through the power of Jesus.

       

3

Aria T

3

Aria [Tenor]

 

Oboe d'amore I/II, Continuo

   
 

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 hard journey of the cross
and the bitter food of tears
do not frighten me.
If the thunderstorm rages,
Jesus sends me from above
salvation and light.

       

4

Recitativo B

4

Recitative [Bass]

 

Continuo

   
 

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 enemy from hell can devour me,
my clamorous conscience falls silent.
What does it matter how many enemies surround me?
Death itself has no power,
victory is already assured for me
because my Jesus shows himself to be my helper.

       

5

Aria B

5

Aria [Bass]

 

Flauto traverso, Continuo

   
 

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, with contempt
in mournful solitude!
Jesus, who has come in the flesh
and accepted my sacrifice
remains with me always.

       

6

Choral

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,
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.

 

Therefore go away for ever, you vanities,
you, Jesus , you are mine, and I am yours
I want to turn away from the world and make myself ready for you;

you must be in my heart and mouth.
May my whole life
be given to you
until one day I am laid in the grave.

       

This Translation in Interlinear 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