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


Cantata BWV 14
Wär Gott nicht mit uns diese Zeit
English Translation in Interlinear Format
Cantata BWV 14 - If God were not with us

Event: Chorale Cantata for the 4th Sunday after Epiphany
Readings: Epistle: Romans 13: 8-10; Gospel: Matthew 8: 23-27
Text: Martin Luther (Mvts. 1, 5); Anon (Mvts. 2-4)
Chorale Text: Wär Gott nicht mit uns diese Zeit

Biblical quotations in green font, chorales in purple

1

Chorus [S, A, T, B]

Corno da caccia, Oboe I/II all' unisono, Violino I/II, Viola, Continuo

Wär Gott nicht mit uns diese Zeit,
If God were not with us at this time,
So soll Israel sagen,
so should Israel say,
Wär Gott nicht mit uns diese Zeit,
if God were not with us at this time,
Wir hätten müssen verzagen,
we would have had to lose heart
Die so ein armes Häuflein sind,
since we are such a poor little flock
Veracht' von so viel Menschenkind,
despised by so much of mankind,
Die an uns setzen alle.
Who all set themselves against us.

2

Aria [Soprano]

Corno da caccia, Violino I/II, Viola, Continuo

Unsre Stärke heißt zu schwach,
Our strength is said to be too weak
Unserm Feind zu widerstehen.
To withstand our enemy.
Stünd uns nicht der Höchste bei,
If the Highest did not stand by us
Würd uns ihre Tyrannei
their tyranny would
Bald bis an das Leben gehen.
Soon touch our very life.

3

Recitative [Tenor]

Continuo

Ja, hätt es Gott nur zugegeben,
Indeed, if God had only allowed it
Wir wären längst nicht mehr am Leben,
we would long since no longer be alive,
Sie rissen uns aus Rachgier hin,
their thirst for vengeance would tears us apart
So zornig ist auf uns ihr Sinn.
So wrathful are theirthoughts towards us.
Es hätt uns ihre Wut
By their fury
Wie eine wilde Flut
like a wild flood
Und als beschäumte Wasser überschwemmet,
with foaming water we had been drowned
Und niemand hätte die Gewalt gehemmet.
And no one could have checked their force.

4

Aria [Bass]

Oboe I/II, Continuo

Gott, bei deinem starken Schützen
God, by your mighty protection
Sind wir vor den Feinden frei.
We are free from enemies.
Wenn sie sich als wilde Wellen
when like wild waves
Uns aus Grimm entgegenstellen,
they furiously confront us
Stehn uns deine Hände bei.
Your hands help us.

5

Chorale [S, A, T, B]

Corno da caccia e Oboe I/II e Violino I col Soprano, Violino II coll'Alto, Viola col Tenore, Continuo

Gott Lob und Dank, der nicht zugab,
Praise and thanks to God, who did not allow
Dass ihr Schlund uns möcht fangen.
That their throats should seize us.
Wie ein Vogel des Stricks kömmt ab,
As a bird escapes from the snare
Ist unsre Seel entgangen:
our soul has got away
Strick ist entzwei, und wir sind frei;
The snare is torn in two and we are free
Des Herren Name steht uns bei,
The Name of the Lord stands by us
Des Gottes Himmels und Erden.
of the God of heaven and earth.

--

This Translation in Parallel Format

English Translation by Francis Browne (July 2008)
Contributed by Francis Browne (July 2008)

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 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




 

Back to the Top


Last update: Monday, January 09, 2023 14:22