Recordings/Discussions
Background Information
Performer Bios

Poet/Composer Bios

Additional Information

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


Text for Cantata 14
Wär Gott nicht mit uns diese Zeit

Original German Text

English Translation

1. CHORAL

Wär Gott nicht mit uns diese Zeit,
so soll Israel sagen,
wär Gott nicht mit uns diese Zeit,
wir hätten müssen verzagen,
die so ein armes Häuflein sind,
veracht' von so viel Menschenkind,
die an uns setzen alle.

Were God not with us at this time,
so shall Israel say,
were God not with us at this time,
we would have to be dismayed,
we are such a meager band
spurned by so much of humankind,
they are all poised against us.

2. ARIA (Sopran)

Unsre Stärke heißt zu schwach,
unserm Feind zu widerstehen.
Stünd uns nicht der Höchste bei,
würd uns ihre Tyrannei
bald bis an das Leben gehen.

Our strength is called too feeble
to stand against our foes.
Were not the Most High standing beside us
their tyranny would
swiftly cause us our life.

3. REZITATIV (Tenor)

Ja, hätt es Gott nur zugegeben,
wir wären längst nicht mehr am Leben,
sie rissen uns aus Rachgier hin,
so zornig ist auf uns ihr Sinn.
Es hätt uns ihre Wut
wie eine wilde Flut
und als beschäumte Wasser überschwemmet,
und niemand hätte die Gewalt gehemmet.

Yes, had God merely given up
our life would have long ago been over,
they would have sweep us away in vindictiveness,
so wrathful is their intent against us.
Their fury would have inundated us
like a raging torrent
or like frothing waters,
and no one could have thwarted its force.

4. ARIA (Baß)

Gott, bei deinem starken Schützen
sind wir vor den Feinden frei.
Wenn sie sich als wilde Wellen
uns aus Grimm entgegenstellen,
stehn uns deine Hände bei.

God, with your mighty protection
we are free from our foes.
When they like raging waves
fiercely batter against us
your hands steady us.

5. CHORAL

Gott Lob und Dank, der nicht zugab,
daß ihr Schlund uns möcht fangen.
Wie ein Vogel des Stricks kömmt ab,
ist unsre Seel entgangen:
Strick ist entzwei, und wir sind frei;
des Herren Name steht uns bei,
des Gottes Himmels und Erden.

Praise and thanks to God, who did not give up,
when their throat desired to trap us.
Like a bird released from a snare
our soul has escaped:
the snare is snapped in two, and we are free;
the Lord's name stands at our defense,
the God of heaven and earth


COMPOSED: January 30, 1735 (Leipzig) for the Fourth Sunday after Epiphany
LIBRETTIST: unknown: Mvt 1. stanza 1 of Martin Luther’s title hymn (1524); Mvt 5. ibid. stanza 3.
TRANSLATION: 2017 © Tobin Schmuck, NYC
Print by permission only, please. Click here.

Cantata BWV 14: Wär Gott nicht mit uns diese Zeit for 4th Sunday after Epiphany (1735)
Discography: Details & Complete Recordings | Recordings of Individual Movements
Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

BWV 14 Text: German-1 | German-2 | German-6 | German-7 | NBA Text
Translations: English-1 | English-3I | English-3P | English-6 | English-10 | English-13 | English-14
Catalan-1 | Chinese-2 | Dutch-0 | Dutch-2 | Dutch-3 | French-1 | French-4 | French-5 | French-6 | Hebrew-1 | Hungarian-1 | Indonesian-1 | Italian-2 | Norwegian-1 | Polish-1 | Polish-2 | Russian-1 | Russian-3 | Spanish-3 | Spanish-7 | Spanish/English-8
Chorale Text: Wär Gott nicht mit uns diese Zeit [BWV 14/1-5]

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




 

Back to the Top


Last update: Tuesday, December 12, 2023 14:09