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Cantata BWV 38
Aus tiefer Not schrei ich zu Dir
English Translation in Parallel Format
Cantata BWV 38 - From deep affliction I cry out to you

Event: Chorale Cantata for the 21st Sunday after Trinity
Readings: Epistle: Ephesians 6: 10-17; Gospel: John 4: 46-54
Text: Martin Luther (after Psalm 130) (Mvts. 1, 6); Anon (Mvts. 2-5)
Chorale Text: Aus tiefer Not schrei ich zu dir (Psalm 130)

Biblical quotations in green font, chorales in purple

 

Original German Text

 

English Translation

1

Coro

1

Chorus [S, A, T, B]

 

Oboe I/II e Violino I e Trombone I col Soprano, Violino II e Trombone II coll'Alto, Viola e Trombone III col Tenore, Trombone IV col Basso, Continuo

 

Aus tiefer Not schrei ich zu dir,
Herr Gott, erhör mein Rufen;
Dein gnädig Ohr neig her zu mir
Und meiner Bitt sie öffne!
Denn so du willt das sehen an,
Was Sünd und Unrecht ist getan,
Wer kann, Herr, vor dir bleiben?

 

From deep affliction I cry out to you,
Lord God, hear my call;
incline your merciful ear here to me
and be open to my prayer!
For if you want to look at this,
what sin and injustice is done,
who can, Lord, remain before you?

       

2

Recitativo A

2

Recitative [Alto]

 

Continuo

   
 

In Jesu Gnade wird allein
Der Trost vor uns und die Vergebung sein,
Weil durch des Satans Trug und List
Der Menschen ganzes Leben
Vor Gott ein Sündengreuel ist.
Was könnte nun
Die Geistesfreudigkeit zu unserm Beten geben,
Wo Jesu Geist und Wort nicht neue Wunder tun?

 

In Jesus' grace alone will
there be consolation for us and forgiveness,
since through Satan’s cunning and deception
the whole life of humanity
is an abomination of sin before God.
What can now
give us spiritual joy along with our prayers,
if Jesus’ word and spirit do not perform new wonders?

       

3

Aria T

3

Aria ]Tenor]

 

Oboe I/II, Continuo

   
 

Ich höre mitten in den Leiden
Ein Trostwort, so mein Jesus spricht.
Drum, o geängstigtes Gemüte,
Vertraue deines Gottes Güte,
Sein Wort besteht und fehlet nicht,
Sein Trost wird niemals von dir scheiden!

 

I hear in the midst of my sufferings
a word of consolation spoken by Jesus.
Therefore, o anguished heart,
trust in the goodness of your God,
his word stands firm and does not fail,
his consolation will never part from you!

       

4

Recitativo S

4

Recitative [Soprano]

 

Continuo

   
 

Ach! Dass mein Glaube noch so schwach,
Und dass ich mein Vertrauen
Auf feuchtem Grunde muss erbauen!
Wie ofte müssen neue Zeichen
Mein Herz erweichen!
Wie? kennst du deinen Helfer nicht,
Der nur ein einzig Trostwort spricht,
Und gleich erscheint,
Eh deine Schwachheit es vermeint,
Die Rettungsstunde.
Vertraue nur der Allmachtshand und seiner Wahrheit Munde!

 

Alas, that my faith is so weak
and that I must build my confidence
on waterlogged ground!
How often must new signs
soften my heart!
What? Do you not know your helper,
who speaks only a single word of consolation,
and immediately appears -
before your weakness notices it
- the hour of rescue.
Trust in the hand of the almighty and the truth of his mouth!

       

5

Aria (Terzetto) S A B

5

Aria (Terzetto) [Soprano, Alto, Bass]

 

Continuo

   
 

Wenn meine Trübsal als mit Ketten
Ein Unglück an dem andern hält,
So wird mich doch mein Heil erretten,
Dass alles plötzlich von mir fällt.
Wie bald erscheint des Trostes Morgen
Auf diese Nacht der Not und Sorgen!

 

When my sorrow as if with chains
joins one misfortune to another,
then will my saviour rescue me,
so that everything suddenly falls away from me.
How soon appears a morning of consolation
after the affliction and worry of this night!

       

6

Choral

6

Chorale [S, A, T, B]

 

Oboe I/II e Violino I e Trombone I col Soprano, Violino II e Trombone II coll'Alto, Viola e Trombone III col Tenore, Trombone IV col Basso, Continuo

 

Ob bei uns ist der Sünden viel,
Bei Gott ist viel mehr Gnade;
Sein Hand zu helfen hat kein Ziel,
Wie groß auch sei der Schade.
Er ist allein der gute Hirt,
Der Israel erlösen wird
Aus seinen Sünden allen.

 

Although there is much sin among us,
with God there is much more mercy;
his helping hand has no limit,
however great the harm may be.
He is alone the good shepherd
who can free Israel
from all his sins.

       

This Translation in Interlinear Format

English Translation by Francis Browne (November 2002)

Contributed by Francis Browne (November 2002)

Cantata BWV 38: Aus tiefer Not schrei ich zu Dir for 21st Sunday after Trinity (1724)
Discography: Details & Complete Recordings | Recordings of Individual Movements
Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5

BWV 38 Text: German-1 | 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-3 | French-1 | French-4 | French-5 | French-6 | Hebrew-1 | Hungarian-1 | Indonesian-1 | Italian-2 | Italian-4 | Norwegian-1 | Polish-1 | Polish-2 | Russian-1 | Russian-3 | Spanish-4 | Spanish-7 | Spanish/English-8
Chorale Text: Aus tiefer Not schrei ich zu dir (Psalm 130) [BWV 38/1,6]

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 14:25