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Cantata BWV 45
Es ist dir gesagt, Mensch, was gut ist
English Translation in Parallel Format
Cantata BWV 45 - You have been told, mankind, what is good

Event: Cantata for the 8th Sunday after Trinity
Readings: Epistle: Romans 8: 12-17; Gospel: Matthew 7: 15-23
Text: Micah 6: 8 (Mvt. 1); Matthew 7: 22-23 (Mvt. 4); Johann Heermann (Mvt. 7); Anon (Mvts. 2, 3, 5, 6) [Walther Blankenburg suggested Christoph Helm]
Chorale Text: O Gott, du frommer Gott

Biblical quotations in green font, chorales in purple

 

Original German Text

 

English Translation

 

Erster Teil

 

1ª Part

1

Coro

1

Chorus [S, A, T, B]

 

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

   
 

Es ist dir gesagt, Mensch, was gut ist
und was der Herr von dir fordert,
nämlich: Gottes Wort
halten und Liebe üben
und demütig sein vor deinem Gott.

 

You have been told, mankind,
what is good and what the Lord requires of you, namely:
to keep God's word and to live in love and be humble before your God.

       

2

Recitativo T

2

Recitative [Tenor]

 

Continuo

   
 

Der Höchste lässt mich seinen Willen wissen
Und was ihm wohlgefällt;
Er hat sein Wort zur Richtschnur dargestellt,
Wornach mein Fuß soll sein geflissen
Allzeit einherzugehn
Mit Furcht, mit Demut und mit Liebe
Als Proben des Gehorsams, den ich übe,
Um als ein treuer Knecht dereinsten zu bestehn.

 

The Highest lets me know his will
and what pleases him well;
He has revealed his word as a plumbline
which my foot should zealously
at all times follow
with fear and with humility and with love
as tests of the obedience which I practise
in order as a faithful servant to pass future tests.

       

3

Aria T

3

Aria [Tenor]

 

Violino I/II, Viola, Continuo

   
 

Weiß ich Gottes Rechte,
Was ist's, das mir helfen kann,
Wenn er mir als seinem Knechte
Fordert scharfe Rechnung an.
Seele, denke dich zu retten,
Auf Gehorsam folget Lohn;
Qual und Hohn
Drohet deinem Übertreten!

 

If I know God's justice,
that is what can help me,
when from me as his servant
he demands a strict account.
Soul, consider how to save yourself:
Reward follows obedience;
torment and shame
threaten you when you transgress!

       
 

Zweiter Teil

 

2ª part

4

Arioso B

4

Arioso [Bass]

 

Violino I/II, Viola, Continuo

   
 

Es werden viele zu mir sagen an jenem Tage:
Herr, Herr, haben wir nicht in deinem Namen geweissaget,
haben wir nicht in deinem Namen Teufel ausgetrieben,
haben wir nicht in deinem Namen viel Taten getan?
Denn werde ich ihnen bekennen:
Ich habe euch noch nie erkannt, weichet alle von mir, ihr Übeltäter!

 

Many will say to me on that day:
Lord, have we not prophesied in your name,
have we not driven out devils in your name,
have we not done many deeds in your name?
Then I shall declare to them:
I have never known you,
all of you go away from me, you evil doers!

       

5

Aria A

5

Aria [Alto]

 

Flauto traverso I, Continuo

   
 

Wer Gott bekennt
Aus wahrem Herzensgrund,
Den will er auch bekennen.
Denn der muss ewig brennen,
Der einzig mit dem Mund
Ihn Herren nennt.

 

Who acknowledges God
from the true depths of his heart,
him he will also be willing to acknowledge.
But that person must burn for ever
who only with his mouth
names him Lord.

       

6

Recitativo A

6

Recitative [Alto]

 

Continuo

   
 

So wird denn Herz und Mund selbst von mir Richter sein,
Und Gott will mir den Lohn nach meinem Sinn erteilen:
Trifft nun mein Wandel nicht nach seinen Worten ein,
Wer will hernach der Seelen Schaden heilen?
Was mach ich mir denn selber Hindernis?
Des Herren Wille muss geschehen,
Doch ist sein Beistand auch gewiss,
Dass er sein Werk durch mich mög wohl vollendet sehen.

 

Therefore my heart and mouth themselves will be my judges,
and God wants to grant me my reward according to what I have intended:
If now my way of life does not accord with his word,
who afterwards will heal my soul's shame ?
Why then do I make an obstacle for myself?
The Lord's will must happen,
but his assistance is also certain,
so that he may see his work in me accomplished well.

       

7

Choral

7

Chorale [S, A, T, B]

 

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

 

Gib, dass ich tu mit Fleiß,
Was mir zu tun gebühret,
Worzu mich dein Befehl
In meinem Stande führet!
Gib, dass ichs tue bald,
Zu der Zeit, da ich soll;
Und wenn ich's tu, so gib,
Dass es gerate wohl!

 

Grant that I may do with diligence
what it is proper for me to do,
wherever your command
leads me in my position!
Grant that I may soon do it
at the time when I should do it;
and when I do it, then grant
that it may turn out well!

       

This Translation in Interlinear Format + Note on the Text

English Translation by Francis Browne (June 2002, September 2011)

Contributed by Francis Browne (September 2011)

Cantata BWV 45: Es ist dir gesagt, Mensch, was gut ist for 8th Sunday after Trinity (1725)
Discography: Details & Complete Recordings | Recordings of Individual Movements
Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

BWV 45 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-1 | French-4 | French-5 | French-6 | Hebrew-1 | Indonesian-1 | Italian-2 | Italian-4 | Japanese-6 | Norwegian-1 | Polish-1 | Russian-1 | Russian-3 | Spanish-4 | Spanish/English-8
Chorale Text: O Gott, du frommer Gott [BWV 45/7]

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 14:25