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Cantata BWV 197
Gott ist unsre Zuversicht
English Translation in Parallel Format
Cantata BWV 197 - God is our confidence

Event: Cantata for a wedding
Text: Martin Luther (Mvt. 5); After Georg Neumark (Mvt. 10); Anon (Mvts. 1-4, 6-9)
Chorale Text: Wer nur den lieben Gott läßt walten

Biblical quotations in green font, chorales in purple

 

Original German Text

 

English Translation

 

Erster Teil

 

First Part

1

Coro

1

Chorus [S, A, T, B]

 

Tromba I-III, Timpani, Oboe I/II, Violino I/II, Viola, Continuo

   
 

Gott ist unsre Zuversicht,
Wir vertrauen seinen Händen.
Wie er unsre Wege führt,
Wie er unser Herz regiert,
Da ist Segen aller Enden.

 

God is our confidence,
we trust in his hands.
As he guides our way
as he rules our heart
there is blessing at the end of everything.

       

2

Recitativo B

2

Recitative [Bass]

 

Continuo

   
 

Gott ist und bleibt der beste Sorger,
Er hält am besten Haus.
Er führet unser Tun zuweilen wunderlich,
Jedennoch fröhlich aus,
Wohin der Vorsatz nicht gedacht.
Was die Vernunft unmöglich macht,
Das füget sich.
Er hat das Glück der Kinder, die ihn lieben,
Von Jugend an in seine Hand geschrieben.

 

God is and remains the one who cares for us best,
He best keeps the house.
He guides our actions from time to time in a wonderful way,
each happily on
to where our intent had not thought.
What reason considers impossible,
that is decreed.
He has the fortune of the children , who love him,
from their youth onward written on his hand.

       

3

Aria A

3

Aria [Alto]

 

Oboe d'amore I, Violino I/II, Viola, Continuo

   
 

Schläfert allen Sorgenkummer
In den Schlummer
Kindlichen Vertrauens ein.
Gottes Augen, welche wachen
Und die unser Leitstern sein,
Werden alles selber machen.

 

Lull to sleep all worrying cares
in the slumber
of a child's trust.
God's eyes, which stay awake
and are our guiding star
will themselves do everything.

       

4

Recitativo B

4

Recitativo [Bass]

 

Violino I/II, Viola, Continuo

   
 

Drum folget Gott und seinem Triebe.
Das ist die rechte Bahn.
Die führet durch Gefahr
Auch endlich in das Kanaan
Und durch von ihm geprüfte Liebe
'Auch an sein heiliges Altar
Und bindet Herz und Herz zusammen,
Herr! sei du selbst mit diesen Flammen!

 

Then follow God and his desire.
That is the right way
which leads through danger
even finally into Canaan
and through the love of which he has made proof
even to his holy altar
and binds heart and heart together,
Lord! may you yourself be present with these flames.

       

5

Choral

5

Choral [S, A, T, B]

 

Oboe d'amore I/II, Violino I/II, Viola, Continuo

   
 

Du süße Lieb, schenk uns deine Gunst,
Laß uns empfinden der Liebe Brunst,
Dass wir uns von Herzen einander lieben
Und in Fried auf einem Sinne bleiben.
Kyrie eleis!

 

You sweet love, give us the gift of your grace,
let us feel the fire of love,
that we may love one another from the heart
and in peace remain of one mind.
Lord, have mercy!

       
 

Zweiter Teil

 

Second Part

6

Aria B

6

Aria [Bass]

 

Oboe I, Violino I/II, Viola, Fagotto obligato, Continuo

   
 

O du angenehmes Paar,
Dir wird eitel Heil begegnen,
Gott wird dich aus Zion segnen
Und dich leiten immerdar,
O du angenehmes Paar!

 

O you charming couple,
you will meet only with pure good,
God will bless you from Sion
and lead you evermore,
O you charming couple!

       

7

Recitativo S

7

Recitative [Soprano]

 

Continuo

   
 

So wie es Gott mit dir
Getreu und väterlich von Kindesbeinen an gemeint,
So will er für und für
Dein allerbester Freund
Bis an das Ende bleiben.
Und also kannst du sicher gläuben,
Er wird dir nie
Bei deiner Hände Schweiß und Müh
Kein Gutes lassen fehlen.
Wohl dir, dein Glück ist nicht zu zählen.

 

Just as God's intentions towards you
from your childhood have been faithful and true like a father,
so will he for ever and ever
remain the best of all friends
right to the end.
And so you can believe with certainty
that for you he will
during the sweat and effort of your hands
allow no good thing to be lacking.
You are fortunate, your good fortune is not to be counted.

       

8

Aria S

8

Aria [Soprano]

 

Violino solo, Oboe d'amore I/II, Continuo

   
 

Vergnügen und Lust,
Gedeihen und Heil
Wird wachsen und stärken und laben.
Das Auge, die Brust
Wird ewig sein Teil
An süßer Zufriedenheit haben.

 

Pleasure and joy
prosperity and good health
will increase and strengthen and refresh.
The eye, the breast
will always its share
have in sweet satisfaction.

       

9

Recitativo B

9

Recitative [Bass]

 

Oboe I/II, Violino I/II, Viola, Continuo

   
 

Und dieser frohe Lebenslauf
Wird bis in späte Jahre währen.
Denn Gottes Güte hat kein Ziel,
Die schenkt dir viel,
Ja mehr, als selbst das Herze kann begehren.
Verlasse dich gewiss darauf.

 

And this happy course of life
will last into later years.
For God's goodness has no end,
it gives you much,
more than the heart itself can desire.
Rely on this with confidence.

       

10

Choral

10

Choral [S, A, T, B]

 

Continuo

   
 

So wandelt froh auf Gottes Wegen,
Und was ihr tut, das tut getreu!
Verdienet eures Gottes Segen,
Denn der ist alle Morgen neu;
Denn welcher seine Zuversicht
Auf Gott setzt, den verlässt er nicht.

 

So travel happily on God's way
and what you do, do that faithfully!
Earn your God's blessing,
for it is new every morning
For whoever places his confidence
in God, he does not abandon.

       

This Translation in Interlinear Format

English Translation by Francis Browne (February 2002)

Contributed by Francis Browne (February 2002)

Cantata BWV 197: Gott ist unsre Zuversicht for Wedding (After 1735 / c1742 / 1736-1737 / 1739)
Discography: Details & Complete Recordings | Recordings of Individual Movements
Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

BWV 197 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 | Japanese-6 | Norwegian-1 | Polish-1 | Polish-2 | Russian-1 | Russian-3 | Spanish-4 | Spanish-7 | Spanish/English-8
Chorale Texts: Nun bitten wir den heiligen Geist [BWV 197/5] | Wer nur den lieben Gott läßt walten [BWV 197/10]

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 14:24