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Cantata BWV 7
Christ unser Herr zum Jordan kam
English Translation in Interlinear Format
Cantata BWV 7 - Christ our Lord came to the Jordan

Event: Feast of Nativity of St John the Baptist
Readings: Epistle: Isaah 40: 1-5; Gospel: Luke 1: 57-80
Text: Martin Luther (Mvts. 1, 7); Anon (Mvts. 2-6)
Chorale Text: Christ unser Herr zum Jordan kam

Biblical quotations in green font, chorales in purple

1

Chorus [S, A, T, B]

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

Christ unser Herr zum Jordan kam
Christ our Lord came to the Jordan
Nach seines Vaters Willen,
in accordance with his Father’s will,
Von Sankt Johanns die Taufe nahm,
received baptism from Saint John
Sein Werk und Amt zu erfüllen;
to fulfil his work and ministry;
Da wollt er stiften uns ein Bad,
by this he wanted to establish for us a bath
Zu waschen uns von Sünden,
to wash us from our sins,
Ersäufen auch den bittern Tod
and also to drown bitter death
Durch sein selbst Blut und Wunden;
through his own blood and wounds;
Es galt ein neues Leben.
this meant a new life.

2

Aria [Bass]

Continuo

Merkt und hört, ihr Menschenkinder,
Mark and hear, children of mankind,
Was Gott selbst die Taufe heißt.
what God himself calls baptism.
Es muss zwar hier Wasser sein,
There must indeed be water here
Doch schlecht Wasser nicht allein.
but not only mere water.
Gottes Wort und Gottes Geist
God’s word and God’s spirit
Tauft und reiniget die Sünder.
baptises and purifies sinners.

3

Recitative [Tenor]

Continuo

Dies hat Gott klar
This God has clearly
Mit Worten und mit Bildern dargetan,
demonstrated with words and images,
Am Jordan ließ der Vater offenbar
at the Jordan the Father openly
Die Stimme bei der Taufe Christi hören;
|
made his voice heard at Christ’s baptism;
Er sprach: Dies ist mein lieber Sohn,
he said: This is my beloved son
An diesem hab ich Wohlgefallen,
in whom I am well pleased.
Er ist vom hohen Himmelsthron
From the high throne of heaven
Der Welt zugut
for the world’s sake
In niedriger Gestalt gekommen
he has come in lowly form
Und hat das Fleisch und Blut
and has taken on the flesh and blood
Der Menschenkinder angenommen;
|
of the children of mankind;
Den nehmet nun als euren Heiland an
now take him as your saviour
Und höret seine teuren Lehren
!
and listen to his precious teaching!

4

Aria [Tenor]

Violino concertante I/II, Continuo

Des Vaters Stimme ließ sich hören,
The Father’s voice makes itself heard,
Der Sohn, der uns mit Blut erkauft,
the Son, who has bought us with his blood,
Ward als ein wahrer Mensch getauft.
was baptised as a true man.
Der Geist erschien im Bild der Tauben,
The Spirit appeared in the image of the dove
Damit wir ohne Zweifel glauben,
so that we may believe without doubt
Es habe die Dreifaltigkeit
the Trinity itself has
Uns selbst die Taufe zubereit'
.
prepared baptism for us.

5

Recitative [Bass[

Violino I/II, Viola, Continuo

Als Jesus dort nach seinen Leiden
As Jesus there after his suffering
Und nach dem Auferstehn
and after his resurrection
Aus dieser Welt zum Vater wollte gehn,
from this world was about to go to his Father,
Sprach er zu seinen Jüngern:
he said to his disciples:
Geht hin in alle Welt und lehret alle Heiden,
go out to all the world and teach all the Gentiles,
Wer glaubet und getaufet wird auf Erden,
whoever believes and is baptised on earth
Der soll gerecht und selig werden.
will be justified and blessed.

6

Aria [Alto]

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

Menschen, glaubt doch dieser Gnade,
People, believe then this mercy,
Dass ihr nicht in Sünden sterbt,
so that you do not die in your sins,
Noch im Höllenpfuhl verderbt!
nor perish in the pit of hell!
Menschenwerk und –heiligkeit
Human deeds and holiness
Gilt vor Gott zu keiner Zeit.
never count for anything before God.
Sünden sind uns angeboren,
We are born in sin,
Wir sind von Natur verloren;
by nature we are lost;
Glaub und Taufe macht sie rein,
faith and baptism make us pure
Dass sie nicht verdammlich sein
.
so that we do not meet with damnation.

7

Chorale [S, A, T, B]

Oboe d'amore I/II e Violino I col Soprano, Violino II coll'Alto, Viola col Tenore, Continuo

Das Aug allein das Wasser sieht,
The eye sees only water
Wie Menschen Wasser gießen,
as men pour water,
Der Glaub allein die Kraft versteht
only faith understands the power
Des Blutes Jesu Christi,
of the blood of Jesus Christ,
Und ist für ihm ein rote Flut
and for faith it is a red stream
Von Christi Blut gefärbet,
coloured by the blood of Christ
Die allen Schaden heilet gut
which heals well all the injuries
Von Adam her geerbet,
we inherited from Adam
Auch von uns selbst begangen.
and also those we have brought upon ourselves.

--

This Translation in Parallel Format

English Translation by Francis Browne (May 2006)
Contributed by Francis Browne (May 2006)

Cantata BWV 7: Christ, unser Herr, zum Jordan kam for Feast of Nativity of St John the Baptist (1724)
Discography: Details & Complete Recordings | Recordings of Individual Movements
Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

BWV 7 Text: German-1 | German-2 | German-6 | German-7 | NBS Text
Translations: English-1 | English-3I | English-3P | English-6 | English-10 | English-13 | English-14
Arabic-1 | Catalan-1 | Chinese-1 | Chinese-2 | Dutch-0 | Dutch-2 | Dutch-6 | French-1 | French-4 | French-5 | French-6 | Hebrew-1 | Indonesian-1 | Italian-2 | Norwegian-1 | Polish-1 | Polish-2 | Portuguese-2 | Russian-1 | Russian-3 | Spanish-3 | Spanish-7 | Spanish/English-8
Chorale Text: Christ unser Herr zum Jordan kam [BWV 7/1,7]

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: Thursday, September 22, 2022 03:35