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Cantata BWV 89
Was soll ich aus dir machen, Ephraim
English Translation in Parallel 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

 

Original German Text

 

English Translation

1

Aria B

1

Aria [Bass]

 

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

   
 

Was soll ich aus dir machen, Ephraim?
Soll ich die 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 am I to make of you , Ephraim?
Should I protect you , Israel?
Should I not simply make an Adamah from you

and mistreat you like Zeboim?
But my heart feels differently,
my mercy is too fervent.

       

2

Recitativo A

2

Recitative [Alto]

 

Continuo

   
 

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
Und angebotne Güte
Und drückt den Nächsten um die Schuld;
So muss die Rache sich entzünden.

 

Indeed God should freely
speak a word in judgement

and avenge the mockery of his name
on his enemies.
Innumerable is the count of your sins

and even if God were to have patience
your hostile character would reject
the kindness offered to you,
and put pressure on your neighbour over his debt;
Therfore vengeance has to be kindled.

       

3

Aria A

3

Aria [Alto]

 

Continuo

   
 

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 judgement
will certainly be pronounced against you.
Vengeance begins with those

who have not shown any mercy
and completely annihilates them like Sodom.

       

4

Recitativo S

4

Recitative [Soprano]

 

Continuo

   
 

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 sets aside anger, quarrels and discord.
It is ready to forgive my neighbour.
However, how terrified I am by my sinful life,
since before God I am guilty!
But the blood of Jesus

makes this account good,
if to him,as the end of the law,
I turn in faith.

       

5

Aria S

5

Aria [Soprano]

 

Oboe, Continuo

   
 

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.

 

Just God, ah,are you calculating the total?
Then for my soul's salvation

I shall count the drops of Jesus' blood.
Ah ! count
the sum of them to my credit!
Indeed, since no one can fathom them,
they cover my guilt and sins.

       

6

Choral

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,
Doch, was ich haben will,
Ist alles mir zugute
Erlangt mit deinem Blute,
Damit ich überwinde
Tod, Teufel, Höll und Sünde.

 

Though I may indeed lack many things,
what I want to have

is all to my benefit,
gained for me by your blood

so that I may overcome
death, devil, hell and sins.

       

This Translation in Interlinear 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