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Cantata BWV 89
Was soll ich aus dir machen, Ephraim
?
English Translation in Interlinear Format
Cantata BWV 89
- What am I to make of you, Ephraim

Event: Solo Cantata for the 22nd Sunday after Trinity
Readings: Epistle: Philippians 1: 3-11; Gospel: Matthew 18: 23-35
Text: Hosea 11: 8 (Mvt. 1); Johann Heermann (Mvt. 6); Anon (Mvts. 2-5) [W. Murray Young suggests Christian Weiss, Sr. or someone unknown]
Chorale Text: Wo soll ich fliehen hin

Biblical quotations in green font, chorales in purple

1

Aria [Bass]

Oboe I/II, Corno, Violino I/II, Viola, Continuo

Was soll ich aus dir machen, Ephraim?
What am I to make of you , Ephraim?
Soll ich die schützen, Israel?
Should I protect you , Israel?
Soll ich nicht billig ein Adama aus dir machen
Should I not simply make an Adamah from you
und dich wie Zeboim zurichten?
and mistreat you like Zeboim?
Aber mein Herz ist anders Sinnes,
But my heart feels differently,
meine Barmherzigkeit ist zu brünstig.
my mercy is too fervent.

2

Recitative [Alto]

Continuo

Ja, freilich sollte Gott
Indeed God should freely
Ein Wort zum Urteil sprechen
speak a word in judgement
Und seines Namens Spott
and avenge the mockery of his name
An seinen Feinden rächen.
on his enemies.
Unzählbar ist die Rechnung deiner Sünden,
Innumerable is the count of your sins
Und hätte Gott auch gleich Geduld,
and even if God were to have patience
Verwirft doch dein feindseliges Gemüte
your hostile character would reject
Die angebotne Güte
the kindness offered to you,
Und drückt den Nächsten um die Schuld;
and put pressure on your neighbour over his debt;
So muss die Rache sich entzünden.
Therfore vengeance has to be kindled.

3

Aria [Alto]

Continuo

Ein unbarmherziges Gerichte
A merciless judgement
Wird über dich gewiss ergehn.
will certainly be pronounced against you.
Die Rache fängt bei denen an,
Vengeance begins with those
Die nicht Barmherzigkeit getan,
who have not shown any mercy
Und machet sie wie Sodom ganz zunichte.
and completely annihilates them like Sodom.

4

Recitative [Soprano]

Continuo

Wohlan! mein Herze legt Zorn, Zank und Zwietracht hin;
Well then!my heart sets aside anger, quarrels and discord.
Es ist bereit, dem Nächsten zu vergeben.
It is ready to forgive my neighbour.
Allein, wie schrecket mich mein sündenvolles Leben,
However, how terrified I am by my sinful life,
Dass ich vor Gott in Schulden bin!
since before God I am guilty!
Doch Jesu Blut
But the blood of Jesus
Macht diese Rechnung gut,
makes this account good,
Wenn ich zu ihm, als des Gesetzes Ende,
if to him,as the end of the law,
Mich gläubig wende.
I turn in faith.

5

Aria [Soprano]

Oboe, Continuo

Gerechter Gott, ach, rechnest du?
Just God, ah,are you calculating the total?
So werde ich zum Heil der Seelen
Then for my soul's salvation
Die Tropfen Blut von Jesu zählen.
I shall count the drops of Jesus' blood.
Ach! rechne mir die Summe zu!
Ah ! count the sum of them to my credit!
Ja, weil sie niemand kann ergründen,
Indeed, since no one can fathom them,
Bedeckt sie meine Schuld und Sünden.
they cover my guilt and sins.

6

Chorale [S, A, T, B]

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

Mir mangelt zwar sehr viel,
Though I may indeed lack many things,
Doch, was ich haben will,
what I want to have
Ist alles mir zugute
is all to my benefit,
Erlangt mit deinem Blute,
gained for me by your blood
Damit ich überwinde
so that I may overcome
Tod, Teufel, Höll und Sünde.
death, devil, hell and sins.

--

This Translation in Parallel Format

English Translation by Francis Browne (August 2008)
Contributed by Francis Browne (August 2008)

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 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 14:26