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Cantata BWV 135
Ach Herr, mich armen Sünder
English Translation in Parallel Format
Cantata BWV 135 - Ah Lord, poor sinner that I am

Event: Chorale Cantata for 3rd Sunday after Trinity
Readings:
Epistle: 1 Peter 5: 6-11; Gospel: Luke 15: 1-10
Text:
Cyriakus Schneegaß (Mvt. 6); Anon (Mvt.1-5)
Chorale Text:
Ach Herr, mich armen Sünder

Biblical quotations in green font, chorales in purple

 

Original German Text

 

English Translation

1

Coro

1

Chorus [S, A, T, B]

 

Trombone, Oboe I/II, Violino I/II, Viola, Continuo

   
 

Ach Herr, mich armen Sünder
Straf nicht in deinem Zorn,
Dein' ernsten Grimm doch linder,
Sonst ist's mit mir verlorn.
Ach Herr, wollst mir vergeben
Mein Sünd und gnädig sein,
Dass ich mag ewig leben,
Entfliehn der Höllenpein.

 

Ah Lord, poor sinner that I am
do not punish me in your anger,
but soften your terrible fury,
for otherwise I shall be lost.
Ah Lord, if only you would forgive

my sin and be gracious
so that I could live forever
And escape the pains of hell.

       

2

Recitativo T

2

Recitative [Tenor]

 

Continuo

   
 

Ach heile mich, du Arzt der Seelen,
Ich bin sehr krank und schwach;
Man möchte die Gebeine zählen,
So jämmerlich hat mich mein Ungemach,
Mein Kreuz und Leiden zugericht;
Das Angesicht
Ist ganz von Tränen aufgeschwollen,
Die, schnellen Fluten gleich, von Wangen abwärts rollen.
Der Seele ist von Schrecken angst und bange;
Ach, du Herr, wie so lange?

 

Ah heal me, you physician of souls,
I am very sick and weak,
my bones could be counted
so pitiably has my misfortune
my cross and suffering battered me
my face
is all swollen with tears

Which like rapid floods roll down my cheeks,
with terror my soul is anxious and fearful;
Ah, Lord, why so long?

       

3

Aria T

3

Aria[Tenor]

 

Oboe I/II, Continuo

   
 

Tröste mir, Jesu, mein Gemüte,
Sonst versink ich in den Tod,
Hilf mir, hilf mir durch deine Güte
Aus der großen Seelennot!
Denn im Tod ist alles stille,
Da gedenkt man deiner nicht.
Liebster Jesu, ist's dein Wille,
So erfreu mein Angesicht!

 

Console, Jesus, my mind,
or else I sink into death,
help me, help me,through your kindness

out of my soul's great distress!
for in death all is still,
there is no thought of you.
Dearest Jesus, if it is your will,
then bring joy to my face!

       

4

Recitativo A

4

Recitative [Alto]

 

Continuo

 

Continuo

 

Ich bin von Seufzen müde,
Mein Geist hat weder Kraft noch Macht,
Weil ich die ganze Nacht
Oft ohne Seelenruh und Friede
In großem Schweiß und Tränen liege.
Ich gräme mich fast tot und bin vor Trauern alt,
Denn meine Angst ist mannigfalt.

 

I am weary with my sighs
my spirit has neither strength nor might,
since throughout the whole night

often without rest and peace in my soul
I lie in great sweat and tears.
I worry myself to death and become old because of my tears

for my fear takes many shapes.

       

5

Aria B

5

Aria [Bass]

 

Violino I/II, Viola, Continuo

 

Violino I/II, Viola, Continuo

 

Weicht, all ihr Übeltäter,
Mein Jesus tröstet mich!
Er lässt nach Tränen und nach Weinen
Die Freudensonne wieder scheinen;
Das Trübsalswetter ändert sich,
Die Feinde müssen plötzlich fallen
Und ihre Pfeile rückwärts prallen.

 

Go away, all you evildoers:
My Jesus gives me consolation

after tears and weeping he allows
the sun of joy to shine again;
the storm of suffering is changed,
my enemies suddenly have to fall

and their arrows are turned back upon them.

       

6

Choral

6

Chorale [S, A, T, B]

 

Cornetto e Oboe I/II e Violino I col Soprano, Violino II coll'Alto, Viola col Tenore, Continuo

 

Ehr sei ins Himmels Throne
Mit hohem Ruhm und Preis
Dem Vater und dem Sohne
Und auch zu gleicher Weis
Dem Heilgen Geist mit Ehren
In alle Ewigkeit,
Der woll uns all'n bescheren
Die ewge Seligkeit.

 

Let there be honour on the throne of heaven
with high renown and praise
for the Father and Son
and also in the same way
to the holy spirit, with honour
for all eternity,
he wishes to bestow on us all

everlasting blessedness.

       

This Translation in Interlinear Format

English Translation by Francis Browne (September 2008)

Contributed by Francis Browne (September 2008)

Cantata BWV 135: Ach Herr, mich armen Sünder for 3rd Sunday after Trinity (1724)
Discography: Details & Complete Recordings | Recordings of Individual Movements
Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

BWV 135 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-4 | French-4 | French-5 | French-6 | Hebrew-1 | Indonesian-1 | Italian-2 | Norwegian-1 | Polish-1 | Russian-1 | Russian-3 | Spanish-3 | Spanish-7 | Spanish/English-8
Chorale Text: Ach Herr, mich armen Sünder [BWV 135/1,~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