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Discussions: Texts: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Translations: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4


Text for Cantata 71
Gott ist mein König von altersher

Original German Text

English Translation

1. CHOR

Gott ist mein König von altersher,
der alle Hülfe tut,
so auf Erden geschicht.

God is my king from ages past,
who enacts all help
laid upon this earth.

2. ARIA (Sopran, Tenor)

Ich bin nun achtzig Jahr,
warum soll dein Knecht sich mehr beschweren?
Ich will umkehren,
daß ich sterbe in meiner Stadt,
bei meines Vaters und meiner Mutter Grab.

Soll ich auf dieser Welt
mein Leben höher bringen,
durch manchen sauren Tritt
hindurch ins Alter dringen,
so gib Geduld, für Sünd
und Schanden mich bewahr,
auf daß ich tragen mag
mit Ehren graues Haar.

I am now in my eightieth year,
why should your servant be burdened any longer?
I want to turn back
that I might die in my city,
beside my father’s and my mother’s grab.

Shall I spend any more
of my life upon this world,
after many a bitter stride
advancing into old age,
thus grant forbearance,
from sin and harm protect me,
that I might wear
with honor my graying hair.

3. CHOR

Dein Alter sei wie deine Jugend,
und Gott ist mit dir in allem,
das du tust.

Your old age is just as your youth,
and God is with you
in all that you do.

4. ARIOSO (Baß)

Tag und Nacht ist dein.
Du machest, daß beide, Sonn und Gestirn,
ihren gewissen Lauf haben.
Du setzest einem jeglichen Lande seine Grenze.

Day and night are yours.
You establish that both sun and stars
follow their respective course.
You set the boundaries for every single land.

5. ARIA (Alt)

Durch mächtige Kraft
erhältst du unsre Grenzen,
hier muß der Friede glänzen,
wenn Mord und Kriegessturm
sich allerort erhebt.
Wenn Kron und Zepter bebt,
hast du das Heil geschafft
durch mächtige Kraft!

With mighty force
you preserve our borders,
here peace must radiate
when murder and the storm of war
are waged in all places.
When crown and scepter quake
you have enacted salvation
by mighty force!

6. CHOR

Du wollest dem Feinde nicht geben
die Seele deiner Turteltauben.

You would not deliver to the enemy
the soul of your turtledove.

7. CHOR

Das neue Regiment
auf jeglichen Wegen
bekröne mit Segen!
Friede, Ruh und Wohlergehen,
müße stets zur Seite stehen
dem neuen Regiment.

Glück, Heil und großer Sieg
muß täglich von neuen
dich, Joseph, erfreuen,
daß an allen Ort und Landen
ganz beständig sei vorhanden
Glück, Heil und großer Sieg!

Crown our new governance
in its every endeavor
with blessing!
Peace, tranquility and prosperity
must ever stand astride
the new rule.

Fortune, health and mighty victory
must delight you anew
daily, Joseph,*
that in every location and land,
ever enduring, coexist
fortune, health and mighty victory!


*Kaiser Joseph I, Holy Roman Emperor (1678–1711)


COMPOSED: February 4, 1708 (Mühlhausen) for the Inauguration of the New Town Council
LIBRETTIST: unknown; Mvt. 1. Psalm 74:12; Mvt. 2. from Samuel 19:35 & 37, plus Johann Heermann, stanza 6 of O Gott, du frommer Gott (1630); Mvt. 3. Deuteronomy 33:25 and Genesis 21:22; Mvt. 4. Psalm 74:16-17; Mvt. 6. Psalm 74:19.
TRANSLATION: 2017 © Tobin Schmuck, NYC
Print by permission only, please. Click here.

Cantata BWV 71: Gott ist mein König for Council Election (1708)
Discography: Details & Complete Recordings | Recordings of Individual Movements
Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

BWV 71 Text: German-1 | German-6 | German-7 | NBA Text
Translations: English-1 | English-3I | English-3P | English-5 | English-6 | English-10 | English-13 | English-14
Catalan-1 | Chinese-1 | Chinese-2 | Dutch-0 | Dutch-3 | French-1 | French-3 | French-4 | French-5 | French-6 | Hebrew-1 | Hebrew-3 | Indonesian-1 | Italian-5 | Japanese-6 | Norwegian-1 | Polish-1 | Russian-1 | Russian-3 | Spanish-2 | Spanish-7 | Spanish/English-8
Chorale Text: O Gott, du frommer Gott [BWV 71/2]

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




 

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