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Cantata BWV 164
Ihr, die ihr euch von Christo nennet
English Translation in Parallel Format
Cantata BWV 164 - You, who take your name from Christ

Event: Solo Cantata for 13th Sunday after Trinity
Readings: Epistle: Galatians 3: 15-22; Gospel: Luke 10: 23-37
Text: Salomo Franck (Mvts. 1-5); Elisabeth Kreuziger (Mvt. 6)
Chorale Text: Herr Christ, der einge Gottessohn

Biblical quotations in green font, chorales in purple

 

Original German Text

 

English Translation

1

Aria T

1

Aria [Tenor]

 

Violino I/II, Viola, Continuo

   
 

Ihr, die ihr euch von Christo nennet,
Wo bleibet die Barmherzigkeit,
Daran man Christi Glieder kennet?
Sie ist von euch, ach, allzu weit.
Die Herzen sollten liebreich sein,
So sind sie härter als ein Stein.

 

You, who take your name from Christ,
where is to be found the mercy,
by which people recognize members of Christ?
It is far, far away from you.
Your hearts should be rich in love,
they are harder than a stone.

       

2

Recitativo B

2

Recitative [Bass]

 

Continuo

   
 

Wir hören zwar, was selbst die Liebe spricht:
Die mit Barmherzigkeit den Nächsten hier umfangen
Die sollen vor Gericht
Barmherzigkeit erlangen.
Jedoch, wir achten solches nicht!
Wir hören noch des Nächsten Seufzer an!
Er klopft an unser Herz; doch wirds nicht aufgetan!
Wir sehen zwar sein Händeringen,
Sein Auge, das von Tränen fleußt;
Doch lässt das Herz sich nicht zur Liebe zwingen.
Der Priester und Levit,
Der hier zur Seite tritt,
Sind ja ein Bild liebloser Christen;
Sie tun, als wenn sie nichts von fremdem Elend wüssten,
Sie gießen weder Öl noch Wein
Ins Nächsten Wunden ein.

 

We do indeed here what love itself says:
those who here embrace their neighbour with mercy
when they come to judgement shall
obtain mercy.
And yet we pay no attention to this!
We hear our neighbour's sighs,
he knocks at our heart but it is not opened.
We see his wringing of hands,
his eyes overflow with tears;
but our heart is not moved to love.
The priest and the Levite
who here pass by on the other side
are indeed an image of Christians without love;
they act as if they know nothing of compassion for the stranger,
they pour neither oil nor wine
in their neighbour's wounds.

       

3

Aria A

3

Aria [Alto]

 

Flauto traverso I/II, Continuo

   
 

Nur durch Lieb und durch Erbarmen
Werden wir Gott selber gleich.
Samaritergleiche Herzen
Lassen fremden Schmerz sich schmerzen
Und sind an Erbarmung reich.

 

Only through love and through compassion
do we become like tGod.
Hearts like that of a Samaritan
are moved to sorrow for the sorrow of others
and are rich in pity.

       

4

Recitativo T

4

Recitative [Tenor]

 

Violino I/II, Viola, Continuo

   
 

Ach, schmelze doch durch deinen Liebesstrahl
Des kalten Herzens Stahl,
Dass ich die wahre Christenliebe,
Mein Heiland, täglich übe,
Dass meines Nächsten Wehe,
Er sei auch, wer er ist,
Freund oder Feind, Heid oder Christ,
Mir als mein eignes Leid zu Herzen allzeit gehe!
Mein Herz sei liebreich, sanft und mild,
So wird in mir verklärt dein Ebenbild.

 

Ah, melt through the rays of your love
the steel of cold hearts,
so that true Christian love,
my saviour, may inspire what I do each day,
so that my neighbour's woe,
whoever he may be,
friend or foe, pagan or Christian,
may always touch my heart as if it were my own sorrow!
May my heart bef illed with love, gentle and tender,
then your image will be transfigured in me.

       

5

Aria (Duetto) S B

5

Aria (Duet) [Soprano, Bass]

 

Flauto traverso I/II e Oboe e Violino I/II, tutti all'unisono, Continuo

   
 

Händen, die sich nicht verschließen,
Wird der Himmel aufgetan.
Augen, die mitleidend fließen,
Sieht der Heiland gnädig an.
Herzen, die nach Liebe streben,
Will Gott selbst sein Herze geben.

 

Hands that are not clasped shut,
will open heaven,
eyes that flow with compassion,
are looked upon with mercy by the Saviour.
To hearts that strive for love,
God himself will give his heart.

       

6

Choral

6

Chorale [A, C, T, B]

 

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

 

Ertöt uns durch dein Güte,
Erweck uns durch dein Gnad!
Den alten Menschen kränke,
Dass der neu' leben mag
Wohl hier auf dieser Erden,
Den Sinn und all Begehrden
Und Gdanken habn zu dir.

 

Kill us with your kindness,
awaken us through your grace!
weaken the old man,
so that the new man may live
even here on this earth,
and we may devote all our mind and desire
and thoughts to you.

       

This Translation in Interlinear Format + Note on the Text

English Translation by Francis Browne (July 2007)

Contributed by Francis Browne (July 2007)

Cantata BWV 164: Ihr, die ihr euch von Christo nennet for 13th Sunday after Trinity (1725)
Discography: Details & Complete Recordings | Recordings of Individual Movements
Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

BWV 164 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-2 | Dutch-0 | Dutch-3 | French-4 | French-5 | French-6 | Hebrew-1 | Indonesian-1 | Italian-2 | Italian-4 | Norwegian-1 | Polish-1 | Russian-1 | Russian-3 | Spanish-4 | Spanish-7 | Spanish/English-8
Chorale Text: Herr Christ, der einge Gottessohn [BWV 164/6]

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 14:23