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Was willst du dich betrüben
Text and Translation of Chorale

EKG:
Author: Johann Heermann (1630) Omnes versus (1724)
Chorale Melody: Von Gott will ich nicht lassen | Composer: Anon (1557)

 

Vocal Works by J.S. Bach:

Ver

Work

Mvt.

Year

Br

RE

KE

Di

BC

Type

 

1

BWV 107

Mvt. 1

1724

-

-

-

-

A109:1

Chorale [S, A, T, B]

 

2

BWV 107

Mvt. 2

1724

-

-

-

-

A109:2

Recitative [B]

 

3

BWV 107

Mvt. 3

1724

-

-

-

-

A109:3

Aria [B]

 

4

BWV 107

Mvt. 4

1724

-

-

-

-

A109:4

Aria [T]

 

5

BWV 107

Mvt. 5

1724

-

-

-

-

A109:5

Aria [S]

 

6

BWV 107

Mvt. 6

1724

-

-

-

-

A109:6

Aria [T]

 

7

BWV 107

Mvt. 7

1724

-

-

-

-

A109:7

Chorale [S, A, T, B]

 
 
 

German Text (verses in bold print set by Bach)

English Translation

1

Was willst du dich betrüben,
O meine liebe Seel?
Ergib dich, den zu lieben,
Der heißt Immanuel!
Vertraue ihm allein,
Er wird gut alles machen
Und fördern deine Sachen.
Wie dir's wird selig sein!

Why do you want to distress yourself,
o my dear soul?
Give yourself up to love of him
who is called Immanuel!
Have trust in him alone,
he will make everything good
and promote your affairs.
What blessings there will be for you!

2

Denn Gott verlässet keinen,
Der sich auf ihn verlässt.
Er bleibt getreu den Seinen.
Die ihm vertrauen fest.
Läßt sich's an wunderlich,
So lass dir doch nicht grauen!
Mit Freuden wirst du schauen,
Wie Gott wird retten dich.

For God abandons no one
who relies on him.
He remains true to those who are his,
who place their trust firmly in him.
Something may begin in a baffling way,
but do not let yourself be frightened.
With joy you will behold
how God will rescue you.

3

Auf ihn magst du es wagen
Mit unerschrocknem Mut,
Du wird mit ihm erjagen,
Was dir ist nütz und gut.
Was Gott beschlossen hat,
Das kann niemand hindern
Aus allen Menschenkindern;
Es geht nach seinem Rat.

With him you may dare
with a courageous spirit,

you will with him get hold of
what is useful and good for you.
What God has decided,
that nobody can change
from all the children of mankind.

Things go according to his counsel.

4

Wenn auch gleich aus der Höllen
Der Satan wollte sich
Dir selbst entgegenstellen
Und toben wider dich.
So muss er doch mit Spott
Von seinen Ränken lassen,
Damit er dich will fassen;
Denn dein Werk fördert Gott.

Even if at once from hell
Satan should want
himself to oppose you,
and rage against you
then with derision he would have
to leave off his intrigues
with which he wants to catch you:
for God helps your work.

5

Es richt's zu seinen Ehren
Und deiner Seligkeit;
Soll's sein, kein Mensch kanns wehren.
Und wärs ihm doch so leid.
Will's denn Gott haben nicht,
So kann's niemand forttreiben.
Es muss zurückebleiben,
Was Gott will, das geschicht.

He directs all for his honour
and your blessedness:
it must be so, no man can fight against it,
even if it means suffering for him.
But what God does not want,
no one can carry on with.
It must be left unfinished,
What God wants, that happens.

6

Darum ich mich ihm ergebe,
Im sei es heimgestellt;
Nach nichts ich sonst mehr strebe
Denn nur was ihm gefällt.
Drauf wart ich und bin still,
Sein Will der ist der beste.
Das glaub ich steif und feste,
Gott mach es, wie er will!

Therefore I devote myself to him,
may all be left to him;
I strive after nothing more

than what pleases him
For this I wait and am still,
His will is what is best
I believe this strongly and truly,
May God act however he wants!

7

Herr, gib, dass ich dein Ehre
Ja all mein Leben lang
Von Herzensgrund vermehre,
Dir sage Lob und Dank!
O Vater, Sohn und Geist,
Der du aus lauter Gnade
Abwendest Not und Schaden,
Sei immerdar gepreist.

Lord, grant that I your honour
throughout my life
may increase from the bottom of my heart,
and give you praise and thanks
O Father, Son and Spirit
you who out of pure mercy
turn away distress and harm,
be praised for evermore!

--

English Translation by Francis Browne (January 2006)
Contributed by Francis Browne (January 2006)

Cantata BWV 107: Complete Recordings | Recordings of Individual Movements | Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2
German Text | Translations: Chinese-1 | Dutch-6 | English-1 | English-3 | English-6 | French-4 | French-6 | Hebrew-1 | Indonesian | Italian | Russian-1 | Spanish-3


Chorales BWV 250-438: Details and Recordings
Individual Recordings: Hilliard - Morimur | Chorales - N. Matt | Chorales - H. Rilling | Preludi ai Corali - Quartetto Italiani di Viola Da Gamba
Discussions: Motets & Chorales for Events in the LCY / Chorales by Theme | General Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Chorales in Bach Cantatas: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Passion Chorale
References: Chorales BWV 250-300 | Chorales BWV 301-350 | Chorales BWV 351-400 | Chorales BWV 401-438 | 371 4-Part Chorales sorted by Breitkopf Number | Texts & Translations of Chorales BWV 250-438
Chorale Texts: Sorted by Title | Chorale Melodies: Sorted by Title | Explanation
MIDI files of the Chorales: Cantatas BWV 1-197 | Other Vocal Works BWV 225-248 | Chorales BWV 250-438
Articles: The Origin of the Texts of the Chorales [A. Schweitzer] | The Origin of the Melodies of the Chorales [A. Schweitzer] | The Chorale in the Church Service [A. Schweitzer] | Choral / Chorale [C.S. Terry] | Hidden Chorale Melody Allusions [T. Braatz] | The History of the Breitkopf Collection of J. S. Bach’s Four-Part Chorales [T. Braatz] | The World of the Bach Chorale Settings [W.L. Hoffman]
Hymnals: Hymnals used by Bach | Wagner Hymnal 1697 | Evangelisches Gesangbuch 1995 | Dietel Chorale List c1734
Abbreviations used for the Chorales | Links to other Sites about the Chorales

Texts & English Translations of Chorales: Sorted by Title

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: Friday, June 02, 2017 03:55