Recordings/Discussions
Background Information
Performer Bios

Poet/Composer Bios

Additional Information

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


Text for Cantata 69a
Lobe den Herren, meine Seele, II

Original German Text

English Translation

1. CHOR

Lobe den Herrn, meine Seele,
und vergiß nicht,
was er dir Gutes getan hat!

Praise the Lord, my soul,
and forget not
what good he has done for you!

2. REZITATIV (Sopran)

Ach, daß ich tausend Zungen hätte!
Ach wäre doch mein Mund
von eitlen Worten leer!
Ach, daß ich gar nichts redte,
als was zu Gottes Lob gerichtet wär!
So machte ich des Höchsten Güte kund;
denn er hat lebenslang so viel an mir getan,
daß ich in Ewigkeit ihm nicht verdanken kann.

Oh, that I had a thousand tongues!
Oh, were indeed my mouth
empty of idle words!
Oh, that I spoke nothing
except that designed for God’s praise!
So I make known the Most High’s goodness;
for he has lifelong done so much for me
that in eternity I can never repay him.

3. ARIA (Tenor)

Meine Seele,
auf, erzähle,
was dir Gott erwiesen hat!
Rühmet seine Wundertat,
laßt ein gottgefällig Singen
durch die frohen Lippen dringen!

My soul,
arise, declare
what God has demonstrated to you!
Extol his wondrous deed,
let God-pleasing singing
permeate your happy lips!

4. REZITATIV (Alt)

Gedenk ich nur zurück,
was du, mein Gott, von zarter Jugend an
bis diesen Augenblick an mir getan,
so kann ich deine Wunder, Herr,
so wenig als die Sterne zählen.
Vor deine Huld, die du an meiner Seelen
noch alle Stunden tust,
indem du nie von deiner Liebe ruhst,
vermag ich nicht vollkommnen Dank zu weihn.
Mein Mund ist schwach, die Zunge stumm
zu deinem Preis und Ruhm.
Ach! sei mir nah
und sprich dein kräftig Hephata,
so wird mein Mund voll Dankens sein.

If I now think back
on what you, my God, from tender youth on
up to this moment have done for me
then I could no more count your wonders, Lord,
than I could the stars.
Before your kindness, which you
still do for my soul every hour,
since you never rest from your loving,
I am not able to offer ample thanks.
My mouth is weak, the tongue dumb
regarding your praise and glory.
Oh! be near to me
and speak your forceful "Hephata",*
then my mouth will be full of thanks.

5. ARIA (Baß)

Mein Erlöser und Erhalter,
nimm mich stets in Hut und Wacht!
Steh mir bei in Kreuz und Leiden,
alsdenn singt mein Mund mit Freuden:
Gott hat alles wohlgemacht!

My redeemer and preserver,
keep me ever under shelter and watch!
Stand by me through cross and suffering,
thereupon my mouth will sing with joy:
God has done all for the good.

6. CHORAL

Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan,
darbei will ich verbleiben.
Es mag mich auf die rauhe Bahn
Not, Tod und Elend treiben:
so wird Gott mich
ganz väterlich
in seinen Armen halten.
Drum laß ich ihn nur walten.

Whatever God does is done for the good,
by this I do remain.
Agony, death and misery may
drive me along the rugged path:
yet God
altogether fatherlike,
will hold me in his arms.
Thus I simply let him prevail.


* word of Chaldee origin (Greek: ephphatha) meaning “be opened”. Jesus speaks the word in Mark 7:34, when healing a deaf-mute


COMPOSED: August 15, 1723 (Leipzig) for the 12th Sunday after Trinity
LIBRETTO: Johann Oswald Knauer (Gotha, 1720); Mvt. 1: Psalm 103:2; Mvt. 6: Samuel Rodigast, stanza 6 of Was Gott tut das ist Wohgetan (1674)
TRANSLATION: 2017 © Tobin Schmuck, NYC
Print by permission only, please. Click here.

Cantata BWV 69a: Lobe den Herrn, meine Seele for 12th Sunday after Trinity (1723)
Discography: Details & Complete Recordings
Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

BWV 69a Text: German-1 | German-6 | German-7 | NBA Text
Translations: English-1 | English-3I | English-3P | English-6 | English-10 | English-14
Dutch-3 | Dutch-11 | French-1 | French-6 | Italian-2 | Russian-1 | Russian-3 | Spanish-3 | Spanish-7 | Spanish/English-8
Chorale Text: Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan [BWV 69a/6]

English Translations (English-10): Index by BWV Number | Index by Title | Index 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




 

Back to the Top


Last update: Tuesday, December 12, 2023 14:11