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Cantata BWV 166
Wo gehest du hin?
English Translation in Interlinear Format
Cantata BWV 166 - Where are you going?

Event: Cantata for Cantate [4th Sunday after Easter]
Readings: Epistle: Jas. 1: 17-21; Gospel: John 16: 5-15
Text: John 16: 5 (Mvt. 1); Bartholomäus Ringwaldt (Mvt. 3); Ämilie Juliane von Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt (Mvt. 6); Anon (Mvts. 2, 4-5)
Chorale Texts: Herr Jesu Christ, ich weiß gar wohl | Wer weiß, wie nahe mir mein Ende

Biblical quotations in green font, chorales in purple

1

Aria [Bass]

Oboe, Violino I/II, Viola, Continuo

Wo gehest du hin? (John 16 : 5)
Where are you going?

2

Aria [Tenor]

Oboe, Continuo

Ich will an den Himmel denken
I shall think of heaven
Und der Welt mein Herz nicht schenken.
and not give away my heart to the world.
Denn ich gehe oder stehe,
For whether I go or stand still
So liegt mir die Frag im Sinn:
I have this question in my mind:
Mensch, ach Mensch, wo gehst du hin?
Man, ah man, where are you going?

3

Chorale [Soprano]

Violino I/II e Viola all' unisono, Continuo

Ich bitte dich, Herr Jesu Christ,
I ask you, Lord Jesus Christ,
Halt mich bei den Gedanken
keep me in your thoughts
Und lass mich ja zu keiner Frist
and do not let me at any time
Von dieser Meinung wanken,
falter in this purpose,
Sondern dabei verharren fest,
but instead let me firmly persevere
Bis dass die Seel aus ihrem Nest
until my soul from its nest
Wird in den Himmel kommen.
shall go to heaven.

4

Recitative [Bass]

Continuo

Gleichwie die Regenwasser bald verfließen
Just as rainwater soon flows away
Und manche Farben leicht verschießen,
and many colours easily fade,
So geht es auch der Freude in der Welt,
so is it also with joy in this world,
Auf welche mancher Mensch so viele Stücken hält;
which many people value so highly;
Denn ob man gleich zuweilen sieht,
even though sometimes people are seen
Dass sein gewünschtes Glücke blüht,
to be flourishing with the good fortune for which they longed
So kann doch wohl in besten Tagen,
still even in the best days
Ganz unvermut' die letzte Stunde schlagen.
quite unexpectedly the last hour may strike.

5

Aria [Alto]

Oboe, Violino I/II, Viola, Continuo

Man nehme sich in acht,
You should take care
Wenn das Gelücke lacht.
when good fortune smiles.
Denn es kann leicht auf Erden
For easily in this earthly life
Vor abends anders werden,
before evening things can turn out differently
Als man am Morgen nicht gedacht.
from what you thought in the morning.

6

Chorale [S, A, T, B]

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

Wer weiß, wie nahe mir mein Ende!
Who knows how near me is my end!
Hin geht die Zeit, her kommt der Tod;
Time goes away, death comes
Ach wie geschwinde und behende
Ah how quickly and swiftly
Kann kommen meine Todesnot.
can my death agony come.
Mein Gott, ich bitt durch Christi Blut:
My God, I entreat you through the blood of Christ:
Mach's nur mit meinem Ende gut!
just let me make a good end!

--

This Translation in Parallel Format

English Translation by Francis Browne (April 2006)
Contributed by Francis Browne (April 2006)

Cantata BWV 166: Wo gehest du hin? for Cantate [4th Sunday after Easter] (1724)
Discography: Details & Complete Recordings | Recordings of Individual Movements
Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

BWV 166 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 | Dutch-0 | Dutch-3 | 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 Texts: Herr Jesu Christ, ich weiß gar wohl [BWV 166/3] | Wer weiß, wie nahe mir mein Ende [BWV 166/6]

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