Chorale Texts used in Bach's Vocal Works
Nun lob, mein' Seel', den Herren
Text and Translation of Chorale

Ref. in hymnals/hymn books: NLGB 686
Author: Johann Gramann (Poliander) (1525)
Chorale Melody: Nun lob, mein' Seel', den Herren (Zahn 8244) | Composer: Johann Kugelmann (1540), derived from the secular song "Weiß mir ein Blümlein blaue" from 15th century.

Description:

"Nun lob, mein Seel, den Herren" (Now praise, my soul, the Lord) is a Lutheran hymn written in German by the theologian and reformer Johann Gramann (Poliander) in 1525. It was published in 1540 and appears in 47 hymnals. A translation by Catherine Winkworth, "My Soul, now Praise thy Maker!", was published in 1863.
History and text
The hymn is a general song of praise, paraphrasing Psalm 103 in four stanzas of 12 lines each. It is supposed to have been written in 1525 "at the request of the Margrave Albrecht, as a version of his favourite Psalm". The hymn was published in Nürnberg as a broadsheet around 1540, and in Augsburg in the hymnal Concentus novi by Johann Kugelmann in 1540, with a melody derived from the secular song "Weiß mir ein Blümlein blaue". A fifth stanza was added in a reprint in Nürnberg in 1555, "Sey Lob und Preis mit Ehren". The hymn appears in 47 hymnals.
Music
The text has been set by composers. Christoph Graupner wrote a cantata, Johann Hermann Schein composed a motet, Michael Praetorius a motet for eight voices. Heinrich Schütz set the hymn as part of Book I of his Psalmen Davids in 1619 (SWV 41). and Johann Pachelbel used the melody in a chorale prelude in about 1693. J.S. Bach used the hymn in several cantatas. He composed four-part settings to close cantatas Ihr Menschen, rühmet Gottes Liebe, BWV 167 (1723), Wer Dank opfert, der preiset mich, BWV 17 (1726), Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen, BWV 51 (1730) and Wir danken dir, Gott, wir danken dir, BWV 29 (1731). He set the hymn as a complex motet as movement 2 of his cantata for the Sunday after Christmas, Gottlob! nun geht das Jahr zu Ende, BWV 28, reflecting thanks for a year coming to a close. J.S. Bach also used the third stanza of the hymn for the second of three movements of the motet Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied, BWV 225. Dietrich Buxtehude composed a chorale fantasia, BuxWV 212, in C major, and three organ preludes, BuxWV 213–215. An organ prelude was also written by Johann Pachelbel.
English
It was translated in several languages, including "My Soul, now Praise thy Maker!" by Catherine Winkworth, published in her Chorale Book for England in 1863. J. C. Jacobi translated it in 1722 as "My soul! exalt the Lord thy God", H. Mills as “Now to the Lord sing praises", published in 1845.
Source: Wikipedia (March 13, 2020)

NLGB 686 "Nun lob', mein' Seel', den Herren" (Now praise, my soul, the Lord), Johann Gramman 1525, 5 stanzas is a setting of Psalm 103, Love of God, with the Johann Kugelmann 1540 melody. Bach uses (all plain chorales except BWV 51/4) are: BWV 389 in C Major (Praise & Thanksgiving, Hänssler v. 83), BWV 390 in C Major (Psalm chorale, Hänssler, v.82); Cantatas BWV 17/7 (Trinity +14, S.3), BWV 29/8 in D w/3 tps., timp.; Council, S.1), 51/4 (S. aria, Trinity +15, S.5), BWV 167 (Johns Day, S.5); motet chorales, Cantata BWV 28/2 (Sunday after Christmas)=Motet BWV 231=BWV Anh. 160/2 (S.5), 225/2 (S.3).
Source: Motets & Chorales for 4^th Sunday after Trinity (William Hoffman, June 22, 2011)

Vocal Works by J.S. Bach:

Chorale Wie sich ein Vatr erbarmet (Mvt. 7) from Cantata BWV 17 (verse 3)
Ref: Riemenschneider 7; Breitkopf 6; Birnstiel 7; AmB 46II p.176; Levy–Mendelssohn 44; Fasch p.92

Form. Simple (2 Ob., Strings, Continuo). Choralgesange, No. 271

Chorus (Chorale) (Mvt. 2) Nun lob, mein Seel, den Herren from Cantata BWV 28 (verse 1)

Form. Choral Motett (Cornetto, 3 Trombones, 2 Ob., Strings, Continuo). Erk, No. 3194

Chorale Sei Lob und Preis mit Ehren (Mvt. 8) from Cantata BWV 29 (verse 5)
Riemenschneider 116; Breitkopf 116; Birnstiel 121; Fasch p.94

Form. Embellished (3 Trombe, Timpani, 2 Ob., Strings, Organ, Continuo). Choralgesange, No. 272.

Chorale for Soprano Sei Lob und Preis mit Ehren (Mvt. 4) from Cantata BWV 51 (verse 5)

Form. Soprano Unison Choral (Violino I and II Soli, Continuo).

Recitative Des Weibes Samen kam (Mvt. 4) from Cantata BWV 167 (paraphrase of verse 1)

Chorale Sei Lob und Preis mit Ehren (Mvt. 5) from Cantata BWV 167 (verse 5)

Form. Extended (Clarino, Oboe, Strings, Continuo).

Chorus Wie sich ein Vater erbarmet (Mvt. 2) from Motet BWV 225 (verse 3)

Motet Sei Lob und Preis mit Ehren BWV 231
Transcription of BWV 28/2

Chorale Nun lob', mein' Seel', den Herren, BWV 389
Ref: Riemenschneider 268; Breitkopf 268; Dietel 39; AmB 46II p.250

Chorale Nun lob', mein' Seel', den Herren, BWV 390
Ref: Riemenschneider 296; Breitkopf 295; Dietel 81; AmB 46II p.288

Chorale Sei Lob und Presi mit Ehren (Mvt. 2) from Motet BWV Anh 160 (verse 5)

German Text (verses in bold print set by Bach)

English Translation

1. Nun lob, mein' Seel', den Herren,
Was in mir ist, den Namen sein!
Sein' Wohltat tut er mehren,
Vergiß es nicht, o Herze mein!
Hat dir dein' Sünd' vergeben
Und heilt dein' Schwachheit groß,
Errett't dein armes Leben,
Nimmt dich in seinen Schoß,
Mit rechtem Trost beschüttet,
Verjüngt dem Adler gleich.
Der Kön'g schafft Recht, behütet,
Die leiden in sein'm Reich.

Now praise, my soul, the Lord,
all that is in me praise his name!
He adds to his acts of kindness,
do not forget this, oh my heart!
He has forgiven you your sins,
and healed your great weakness.
He rescues your poor life,
he takes you into his bosom,
pours down just consolation,
renews you like the eagle,
the king acts justly, protects
those who suffer in his kingdom.

2. Er hat uns wissen lassen
Sein herrlich Recht und sein Gericht,
Dazu sein' Güt' ohn' Maßen,
Es mangelt an Erbarmung nicht.
Sein'n Zorn läßt er wohl fahren,
Straft nicht nach unsrer Schuld,
Die Gnad' tut er nicht sparen,
Den Blöden ist er hold.
Sein Güt' ist hoch erhaben
Ob den'n, die fürchten ihn.
So fern der Ost vom Abend,
Ist unsre Sünd' dahin.

He has let us know
his marvelous justice and his court,
and also his boundless kindness,
nothing is lacking in his compassion,
he lets us off his anger,
he does not punish us according to our guilt,
he is unstinting in his mercy,
to the foolish he is graceful.
His kindness is valued highly
by those who fear him.
As far as the east is from the west,
our sins are from him.

3. Wie sich ein Mann erbarmet
Über sein' junge Kinderlein,
So tut der Herr uns Armen,
So wir ihn kindlich fürchten rein.
Er kennt das arm' Gemächte
Und weiß, wir sind nur Staub,
Gleichwie das Gras, von Rechen.
Ein' Blum' und fallend Laub,
Der Wind nur drüber wehet,
So ist es nimmer da:
Also der Mensch vergehet,
Sein End', das ist ihm na.

As a man feels compassion
for his little children,
so does the Lord for us poor people,
so we should revere him simply as children.
He knows our poor strength
and is aware that we are only dust,
like the grass,swept away,
a flower and falling leaves,
the wind has only to blow over them,
then they are there no more:
so mankind passes on
His end is is near to him.

4. Die Gottesgnad' alleine
Bleibt stet und fest in Ewigkeit
Bei seiner lieben G'meine,
Die steht in seiner Furcht bereit,
Die seinen Bund behalten.
Der herrscht im Himmelreich.
Ihr starken Engel, waltet
Sein's Lobs und dient zugleich
Dem großen Herrn zu Ehren
Und treibt sein heil'ges Wort,
Mein' Seel' soll auch vermehren
Sein Lob an allem Ort.

Only God's mercy
remains fixed and firm for ever
for his dear congregation
who stand ready in reverence for him,
who keep his covenant.
He rules in the kingdom of heaven.
You mighty angels, act
in his praise and also by your service
honour the great Lord
and promote his holy word.
My soul also must increase
his praise everywhere.

5. Sei Lob und Preis mit Ehren
Gott Vater, Sohn und Heil'gem Geist!
Der woll' in uns vermehren,
Was er uns aus Genad' verheißt,
Daß wir ihm fest vertrauen,
Gänzlich uns laß'n auf ihn,
Von Herzen auf ihn bauen,
Daß uns'r Herz, Mut und Sinn
Ihm festiglich anhangen.
Drauf singen wir zur Stund:
Amen, wir werd'n's erlangen,
Glaub'n wir aus Herzengrund.

May there be praise and glory and honour
for God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit!
May it be his will to increase in us
what he promised us through his grace,
so that we firmly trust him,
surrender ourselves wholly to him,
build on him in our hearts,
so that our heart, spirit and mind
steadfastly depend on him.
For this reason we sing now:
Amen, we shall achieve this,
we believe from the bottom of our hearts.

--

English Translation by Francis Browne (June 2008)
Contributed by Francis Browne (June 2008), Aryeh Oron (March 2020)