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


Text for Cantata 130
Herr Gott, dich loben alle wir

Original German Text

English Translation

1. CHOR

Herr Gott, dich loben alle wir
und sollen billig danken dir
für dein Geschöpf der Engel schon,
die um dich schwebn um deinen Thron.

Lord God, we all praise you
and shall properly thank you
for once creating your angels
which waft around you and your throne.

2. REZITATIV (Alt)

Ihr heller Glanz und hohe Weisheit zeigt,
wie Gott sich zu uns Menschen neigt,
der solche Helden, solche Waffen
vor uns geschaffen.
Sie ruhen ihm zu Ehren nicht;
ihr ganzer Fleiß ist nur dahin gericht',
daß sie, Herr Christe, um dich sei'n
und um dein armes Häufelein:
wie nötig ist doch diese Wacht
bei Satans Grimm und Macht!

Their bright luster and lofty wisdom reveal,
how God inclines himself to us humans,
who such champions, such weaponry
fashions for us.
They never rest in honoring him;
their full diligence is directed only toward this,
that they, Lord Christ, surround you
and surround your poor little band
how crucial is indeed this watch
midst Satan’s wrath and might!

3. ARIA (Baß)

Der alte Drache brennt vor Neid
und dichtet stets auf neues Leid,
daß er das kleine Häuflein trennet.
Er tilgte gern, was Gottes ist,
bald braucht er List,
weil er nicht Rast noch Ruhe kennet.

The ancient dragon burns with envy
and dictates an ever new affliction,
that he might break up the little band,
He would gladly eliminate what God is,
swiftly he brings on his ploy
for he knows neither rest nor repose.

4. REZITATIV (Sopran, Tenor)

Wohl aber uns, daß Tag und Nacht
die Schar der Engel wacht,
des Satans Anschlag zu zerstören!
Ein Daniel, so unter Löwen sitzt, erfährt,
wie ihn die Hand des Engels schützt.
Wenn dort die Glut in Babels Ofen
keinen Schaden tut,
so lassen Gläubige ein Danklied hören,
so stellt sich in Gefahr
noch itzt der Engel Hülfe dar.

Blessed however are we, that day and night
the throng of angels watch,
to intercept Satan’s assault!
Daniel, while seated among lions experienced
how the hand of an angel protected him.
As there the embers in Babylon’s ovens
caused no harm,
so believers let a song of thanks be heard
so, whenever in peril, even now
the aid of angels is present.

5. ARIA (Tenor)

Laß, o Fürst der Cherubinen,
dieser Helden hohe Schar
immerdar
deine Gläubigen bedienen;
laß sie auf Elias Wagen
sie zu dir gen Himmel tragen.

Let, O prince of cherubim,
this lofty throng of heroes
evermore
attend to your believers;
let these in Elijah’s chariot
carry them unto you up to heaven.

6. CHORAL

Darum wir billig loben dich
und danken dir, Gott, ewiglich,
wie auch der lieben Engel Schar
dich preisen heut und immerdar.

Und bitten dich, wollst allezeit
dieselben heißen sein bereit,
zu schützen deine kleine Herd,
so hält dein göttlichs Wort in Wert.

Thus we properly praise you
and thank you, God, eternally
just as the dear angelic throng
praises you today and evermore.

And bid you, that you would always
name these same at ready
to guard your little flock,
thus sustaining your divine word in value.


COMPOSED: September 29, 1724 (Leipzig) for St. Michael and All Angels
LIBRETTIST: unknown; based on the hymn by Paul Eber (ca. 1561) an adaptation of Philipp Melanchthon's Dicimus grates tibi (1539)
TRANSLATION: 2017 © Tobin Schmuck, NYC
Print by permission only, please. Click here.

Cantata BWV 130: Herr Gott, dich loben alle wir for Feast of St Michael and All Angels (1724)
Discography: Details & Complete Recordings | Recordings of Individual Movements
Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

BWV 130 Text: German-1 | German-6 (1) | German-6 (2) | German-7 (1) | German-7 (2) | NBA Text
Translations: English-1 | English-3I | English-3P | English-5 | English-6 | English-10 | English-13 | English-14
Catalan-1 | Chinese-2 | Dutch-0 | Dutch-3 | French-4 | French-5 | French-6 | Hebrew-1 | Hungarian-1 | Indonesian-1 | Italian-2 | Norwegian-1 | Polish-1 | Russian-1 | Russian-3 | Spanish-3 | Spanish-7 | Spanish/English-8
Chorale Text: Herr Gott, dich loben alle wir [BWV 130/1,~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