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


Text for Cantata 91
Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ

Original German Text

English Translation

1. CHOR

Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ,
daß du Mensch geboren bist
von einer Jungfrau, das ist wahr,
des freuet sich der Engel Schar.
Kyrie eleis!

Praised be you, Jesus Christ,
that you were born human
of a virgin, this is true,
for this the angelic throng rejoices.
Lord have mercy!

2. REZITATIV; CHORAL (Sopran)

Der Glanz der höchsten Herrlichkeit,
das Ebenbild von Gottes Wesen,
hat in bestimmter Zeit
sich einen Wohnplatz auserlesen.
Des ewgen Vaters einigs Kind,
das ewge Licht von Licht geboren,
itzt man in der Krippe findt.
O Menschen, schauet an,
was hier der Liebe Kraft getan!
In unser armes Fleisch und Blut,
(und war denn dieses nicht verflucht,
verdammt, verloren?)
verkleidet sich das ewge Gut.
So wird es ja zum Segen auserkoren.

The radiance of highest splendor,
the likeness of God’s being,
has, at this specified moment,
selected a dwelling place.
The child, one with the eternal Father,
the eternal light born of light,
is now to be found in a manger.
O humanity, behold,
what the power of love has done here!
In our feeble flesh and blood,
(and was this not already cursed,
damned and lost?)
this eternal good clothes itself.
So yes it is preordained for blessing.

3. ARIA (Tenor)

Gott, dem der Erden Kreis zu klein,
den weder Welt noch Himmel fassen,
will in der engen Krippe sein.
Erscheinet uns dies ewge Licht,
so wird hinfüro Gott uns nicht
als dieses Lichtes Kinder hassen.

God, to whom the earth’s sphere is so small,
whom neither world nor sky can fathom,
will be in a narrow manger.
This eternal light appears before us
so henceforth God will not
spurn us, as children of this light.

4. REZITATIV (Baß)

O Christenheit, wohlan, so mache dich bereit,
bei dir den Schöpfer zu empfangen!
Der große Gottessohn
kömmt als ein Gast zu dir gegangen.
Ach, laß dein Herz durch diese Liebe rühren;
er kömmt zu dir, um dich vor seinen Thron
durch dieses Jammertal zu führen.

O Christendom, well then, thus prepare yourself
to receive the creator yourself.
The mighty Son of God
arrives before you as guest.
Oh, let your heart be stirred by this love;
he comes to you, to lead you through
this vale of tears unto his throne.

5. ARIA (Sopran, Alt)

Die Armut, so Gott auf sich nimmt,
hat uns ein ewig Heil bestimmt,
den Überfluß an Himmelsschätzen.
Sein menschlich Wesen machet euch
den Engels Herrlichkeiten gleich,
euch zu der Engel Chor zu setzen.

The poverty, which God takes upon himself,
has ascertained us eternal salvation,
a profusion of heavenly treasures.
His mortal being makes you
equal in splendor to the angels,
placing you midst the angelic chorus.

6. CHORAL

Das hat er alles uns getan,
sein groß Lieb zu zeigen an;
des freu sich alle Christenheit
und dank ihm des in Ewigkeit.
Kyrie eleis!

All this has he done for us
to reveal his great love;
at this all Christendom rejoice
and thank him in eternity.
Lord have mercy!


COMPOSED: December 25, 1724 (Leipzig) for Christmas
LIBRETTIST: unknown; based on the hymn by Martin Luther (1524)
TRANSLATION: 2017 © Tobin Schmuck, NYC
Print by permission only, please. Click here.

Cantata BWV 91: Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ for Christmas Day (1724)
Discography: Details & Complete Recordings | Recordings of Individual Movements
Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5

BWV 91 Text: German-1 | German-6 (1) | German-6 (2) | German-7 (1) | German-7 (2) | NBA Text
Translations: English-1 | English-3I | English-3P | English-6 | English-10 | English-14
Catalan-1 | Chinese-2 | Dutch-0 | Dutch-3 | Dutch-5 | French-4 | French-5 | French-6 | Hebrew-1 | Hungarian-1 | Indonesian-1 | Italian-2 | Kobayashi | Norwegian-1 | Polish-1 | Portuguese-1 | Russian-1 | Russian-3 | Spanish-2 | Spanish-3 | Spanish-7 | Spanish/English-8
Chorale Text: Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ [BWV 1,2,~3-5,6]

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