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Text for Cantata 89
Was soll ich aus dir machen, Ephraim?

Original German Text

English Translation

1. ARIA (Baß)

Was soll ich aus dir machen, Ephraim?
Soll ich dich schützen, Israel?
Soll ich nicht billig ein Adama aus dir machen
und dich wie Zeboim zurichten?
Aber mein Herz ist anders Sinnes,
meine Barmherzigkeit ist zu brünstig.

What shall I do with you, Ephraim?*
Shall I defend you Israel?
Shall I not simply treat you like Admah
and batter you like Zeboiim?**
However my heart is otherwise inclined,
my compassion is too ardent.

2. REZITATIV (Alt)

Ja, freilich sollte Gott
ein Wort zum Urteil sprechen
und seines Namens Spott an seinen Feinden rächen.
Unzählbar ist die Rechnung deiner Sünden,
und hätte Gott auch gleich Geduld,
verwirft doch dein feindseliges Gemüte
die angebotne Güte
und drückt den Nächsten um die Schuld;
so muß die Rache sich entzünden.

Yes, of course God should
speak a word of judgment
and avenge his foes for the derision of his name.
Incalculable is the sum of your sins,
and while God does have patience
your hostile nature actually
rejects any offer of benevolence
and presses your neighbor for his debt (to you);
so vengeance of course must be ignited.

3. ARIA (Alt)

Ein unbarmherziges Gerichte
wird über dich gewiß ergehn.
Die Rache fängt bei denen an,
die nicht Barmherzigkeit getan,
und machet sie wie Sodom ganz zunichte.

A merciless sentence
will surely be passed against you.
Vengeance commences upon those
who acted without compassion,
and like Sodom they will be totally annihilated.

4. REZITATIV (Sopran)

Wohlan! mein Herze legt Zorn,
Zank und Zwietracht hin;
es ist bereit, dem Nächsten zu vergeben.
Allein, wie schrecket mich mein sündenvolles Leben,
daß ich vor Gott in Schulden bin!
Doch Jesu Blut macht diese Rechnung gut,
wenn ich zu ihm, als des Gesetzes Ende,
mich gläubig wende.

Well then! my heart lays aside ire,
altercation and dissent;
it is prepared to pardon my neighbor.
However, my sin-filled life troubles me
for I am in debt before God!
Yet Jesus’ blood settles my account
when I turn to him in faith
as the ultimate law.

5. ARIA (Sopran)

Gerechter Gott, ach, rechnest du?
So werde ich zum Heil der Seelen
die Tropfen Blut von Jesu zählen.
Ach! rechne mir die Summe zu!
Ja, weil sie niemand kann ergründen,
bedeckt sie meine Schuld und Sünden.

Righteous God, oh, are you adding things up?
Then for my soul’s salvation I will
add in the drops of blood from Jesus.
Oh! tally up the sum for me now!
Yes, though no one can fathom it
they blot out my debts and sins.

6. CHORAL

Mir mangelt zwar sehr viel,
doch, was ich haben will,
ist alles mir zugute
erlangt mit deinem Blute,
damit ich überwinde
Tod, Teufel, Höll und Sünde.

I am indeed greatly lacking,
yet what I do have
is all for my gain,
acquired with your blood
by which I will surmount
death, devil, hell and sin.


* Ephraim was the second son of Joseph and Asenath (an Egyptian woman) and the most powerful tribe of Israel.
** Admah and Zeboiim were two of five cities to the southeast of the Dead Sea, along with Sodom, Gomorrah and Zoar.


COMPOSED: October 24, 1723 (Leipzig) for the 22nd Sunday after Trinity
LIBRETTIST: unknown; Mvt 1. Hosea 11:8; Mvt 6. Johann Heermann, stanza 7 of Wo soll ich fliehen hin (1630)
TRANSLATION: 2022 © Tobin Schmuck, NYC
Print by permission only, please. Click here.

Cantata BWV 89: Was soll ich aus dir machen, Ephraim? for 22nd Sunday after Trinity (1723)
Discography: Details & Complete Recordings | Recordings of Individual Movements
Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

BWV 89 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 | Dutch-0 | Dutch-3 | French-4 | French-5 | French-6 | Hebrew-1 | Indonesian-1 | Italian-2 | Norwegian-1 | Polish-1 | Polish-2 | Russian-1 | Russian-3 | Spanish-3 | Spanish-7 | Spanish/English-8
Chorale Text: Wo soll ich fliehen hin [BWV 89/6]

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




 

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