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Cantata BWV 180
Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele
English Translation in Interlinear Format
Cantata BWV 180 - Adorn yourself, O dear soul

Event: Chorale Cantata for the 20th Sunday after Trinity
Readings:
Epistle: Ephesians 5: 15-21; Gospel: Matthew 22: 1-14
Text:
Johann Franck (Mvts. 1, 3, 7); Anon (Mvts. 2, 4-6)
Chorale Text:
Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele

Biblical quotations in green font, chorales in purple

1

Chorus [S, A, T, B]

Flauto I/II, Oboe I/II (Oboe da caccia), Violino I/II, Viola, Continuo

Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele,
Adorn yourself, O dear soul,
Laß die dunkle Sündenhöhle,
leave the dark den of sins,
Komm ans helle Licht gegangen,
come into the clear light,
Fange herrlich an zu prangen;
begin to shine with glory,
Denn der Herr voll Heil und Gnaden
for the Lord, full of salvation and mercy
Läßt dich itzt zu Gaste laden.
has now invited you as a guest.
Der den Himmel kann verwalten,
He who can reign in heaven
Will selbst Herberg in dir halten.
wants himself to make his dwelling in you.

2

Aria [Tenor]

Flauto traverso, Continuo

Ermuntre dich: dein Heiland klopft,
Stir yourself: your saviour is knocking,
Ach, öffne bald die Herzenspforte!
Ah, open quickly the doors of your heart!
Ob du gleich in entzückter Lust
Even if in enchanted delight
Nur halb gebrochne Freudenworte
only words of joy half broken
Zu deinem Jesu sagen musst.
you have to say to your Jesus.

3

Recitative & Chorale [Soprano]

Violoncello piccolo, Continuo

Wie teuer sind des heilgen Mahles Gaben!
How valuable are the gifts of the holy meal!
Sie finden ihresgleichen nicht.
Nothing like them can be found anywhere.
Was sonst die Welt
What the world otherwise
Vor kostbar hält,
considers as precious
Sind Tand und Eitelkeiten;
are only toys and vanity;
Ein Gotteskind wünscht diesen Schatz zu haben
A child of God wants to have this treasure
Und spricht:
And says:

Ach, wie hungert mein Gemüte,
Ah, how my spirit hungers,
Menschenfreund, nach deiner Güte!
Friend of man, for your goodness!
Ach, wie pfleg ich oft mit Tränen
Ah,how often I am accustomed with tears
Mich nach dieser Kost zu sehnen!
to long for this nourishment.
Ach, wie pfleget mich zu dürsten
Ah, how accustomed I am to thirst
Nach dem Trank des Lebensfürsten!
for the drink of the Prince of life1
Wünsche stets, dass mein Gebeine
Constantly I wish that my bones
Sich durch Gott mit Gott vereine.
could be united through God with God.

4

Recitative [Alto]

Flauto I/II, Continuo

Mein Herz fühlt in sich Furcht und Freude;
My heart feels in itself fear and joy;
Es wird die Furcht erregt
Fear is aroused
Wenn es die Hoheit überlegt
when it contemplates his grandeur,
Wenn es sich nicht in das Geheimnis findet,
when it does not find its way in the mystery,
Noch durch Vernunft dies hohe Werk ergründet.
Nor through reason reaches the bottom of this high work.
Nur Gottes Geist kann durch sein Wort uns lehren,
Only God's spirit can teach us through his Word,
Wie sich allhier die Seelen nähren,
how the souls here are nourished,
Die sich im Glauben zugeschickt.
Who surrender themselves in belief.
Die Freude aber wird gestärket,
Our joy however is strengthened
Wenn sie des Heilands Herz erblickt
when we regard the saviour's heart
Und seiner Liebe Größe merket.
and take note of the greatness of his love.

5

Aria [Soprano]

Flauto I/II, Oboe I/II (Oboe da caccia), Violino I/II, Viola, Continuo

Lebens Sonne, Licht der Sinnen,
Sun of life, light of the senses
Herr, der du mein alles bist!
Lord, you who are everything to me!
Du wirst meine Treue sehen
You will see my loyalty
Und den Glauben nicht verschmähen,
and will not scorn my faith
Der noch schwach und furchtsam ist.
which is still weak and fearful.

6

Recitative [Bass]

Continuo

Herr, lass an mir dein treues Lieben,
Lord, grant that your faithful love for me
So dich vom Himmel abgetrieben,
which drove you from heaven
Ja nicht vergeblich sein!
may not be in vain!
Entzünde du in Liebe meinen Geist,
Set my spirit on fire in love
Dass er sich nur nach dem, was himmlisch heißt,
so that only towards what is known as heavenly
Im Glauben lenke
in faith it may be directed
Und deiner Liebe stets gedenke.
and think of your love continuously.

7

Chorale [S, A, T, B]

Continuo

Jesu, wahres Brot des Lebens,
Jesus, true bread of life,
Hilf, dass ich doch nicht vergebens
help me so that not in vain
Oder mir vielleicht zum Schaden
or perhaps to my loss
Sei zu deinem Tisch geladen.
I may be invited to your table.
Laß mich durch dies Seelenessen
Grant that I may, through this food for my soul,
Deine Liebe recht ermessen,
measure out rightly your love,
Dass ich auch, wie itzt auf Erden,
so that I also, as here on earth,
Mög ein Gast im Himmel werden.
become a guest in heaven.

--

This Translation in Parallel Format

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

Cantata BWV 180: Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele for 20th Sunday after Trinity (1724)
Discography: Details & Complete Recordings | Recordings of Individual Movements
Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

BWV 180 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 | Danish-1 | Dutch-0 | Dutch-4 | French-4 | French-5 | French-6 | Hebrew-1 | Indonesian-1 | Italian-2 | Japanese-6 | Norwegian-1 | Polish-1 | Polish-2 | Russian-1 | Russian-3 | Spanish-3 | Spanish-7 | Spanish/English-8
Chorale Text: Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele [BWV 180//1,~2,3,~5-6,7]

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