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Schaut, schaut, was ist für Wunder dar?
Text and Translation of Chorale

EKG:
Author: Paul Gerhardt (1667)
Chorale Melody: | Composer: ()

 

Vocal Works by J.S. Bach:

Ver

Work

Mvt.

Year

Br

RE

KE

Di

BC

Type

 

8

BWV 248/2

Mvt. 8

1734

         

Chorale [S, A, T, B]

 
 
 

German Text (verses in bold print set by Bach)

English Translation

1

Schaut, schaut, was ist für Wunder dar?
Die schwarze Nacht wird hell und klar,
Ein großes Licht bricht jetzt herein,
Ihm weichet aller Sternen Schein.

Look, look,what sort of miracle is this?
The black night becomes bright and clear,
a great light breaks forth in this place,
the gleam of all the stars yields to it

2

Es ist ein rechtes Wunderlicht
Und gar die alte Sonne nicht,
Weils wider die Natur die Nacht
Zu einem hellen Tage macht.

It is a truly miraculous light
And certainly not the old sun
since against nature the night
is made into bright day.

3

Was wird hierdurch uns zeigen an,
Der die Natur so ändern kann?
Es muß ein großes Werk geschehn,
Wie wir aus solchen Zeichen sehn.

What is revealed to us through this
that can so change nature?
A great deed must have happened
as we see from such a sign.

4

Sollt auch erscheinen dieser Zeit
Die Sonne der Gerechtigkeit,
Der helle Stern aus Jakobs Stamm,
Der Heiden Licht, des Weibes Sam?

Should there also appear at this time
the son of righteousness,
the bright Star from the root of Jacob
the light of the heathen, seed of the woman ?

5

Es ist also. Des Himmels Heer,
Das bringt uns jetzt die Freudenmähr,
Wie sich nunmehr hat eingestellt
Zu Bethlehem das Heil der Welt.

It is so. Of Heaven's host
this brings us now the joyful news,
since at this time there has appeared
in Bethlehem the salvation of the world.

6

O Gütigkeit, was lange Jahr
Sich hat der frommen Väter Schar
Gewünscht und sehnlich oft begehrt,
Des werden wir von Gott gewährt.

O Kindness, what for many years
the host of righteous ancestors
often wished and desired with longing
has been granted to us by God

7

Drum auf, ihr Menschenkinder, auf,
Auf, auf und nehmet euren Lauf
Mit mir hin zu der Stell und Ort,
Davon gemeldt der Engel Wort.

Therefore arise, human race, arise,
arise arise and run
with me from here to the place
announced by the angels' words

8

Schaut hin, dort liegt im finstern Stall,
Des Herrschaft gehet überall,
Da Speise vormals sucht ein Rind,
Da ruhet jetzt der Jungfrau Kind.

Look, there lies in the dark stable
one who has Lordship over everything,
where a cow once looked for food
there now the virgin's child rests.

9

O Menschenkind, betracht es recht,
Und strauchle nicht, dieweil so schlecht,
So elend scheint dies Kindelein,
Es ist und soll auch groß uns sein.

O human race, consider this rightly
and do not stumble, since although so poor,
so wretched this little child seems,
he is and must be great for us.

10

Es wird im Fleisch hier vorgestellt,
Der alles schuf und noch erhält,
Das Wort, so bald im Anfang war
Bei Gott, selbst Gott, das lieget dar.

He is presented here in the flesh,
who created and still maintains everything
the Word,that was in the beginning
with God, God himself, he lies there.

11

Es ist der eingeborne Sohn
Des Vaters, unser Gnadenthron,
Das A und O, der große Gott,
Der Siegesfürst, Herr Zebaoth.

He is the only son
of the father, our throne of grace
the beginning and the end, the great God,
the Prince of victory, Lord of Sabaoth

12

Denn weil die Zeit nunmehr erfüllt,
Da Gottes Zorn muß sein gestillt,
Wird sein Sohn Mensch, trägt unsre Schuld,
Wirbt uns durch sein Blut Gottes Huld.

Since that time is now filled
when God's anger must be appeased,
his son becomes man, bears our guilt,
through his blood gains us God's favour.

13

Dies ist die rechte Freudenzeit,
Weg Trauren, weg, weg alles Leid.
Trotz dem, der ferner uns verhöhnt,
Gott selbst ist Mensch, wir sind versöhnt.

This is the true joyful time,
away with mourning, away with sorrow.
In spite of him who mocks us
God himself is man, we are reconciled

14

Der Sündenbüßer ist nun hier,
Den Schlangentreter haben wir,
Der Höllen Pest, des Todes Gift,
Des Lebens Fürst man hier antrifft.

He who atones for sins is now here,
we have him who treads on the snake,
the plague of hell, death's poison,
here we meet the Prince of life

15

Es hat mit uns nun keine Not,
Weil Sünde, Teufel, Höll und Tod
Zu Spott und Schanden sind gemacht
In dieser großen Wundernacht.

With us there is now no distress,
since sin, the devil, hell and death
have been made shame and derision
in this night of wonders

16

O selig, selig alle Welt,
Die sich an dieses Kindlein hält.
Wohl dem, der dieses recht erkennt
Und gläubig seinen Heiland nennt.

O blessed, blessed the whole world
which takes to itself the small child,
happy is he, who acknowledges him rightly
and in faith names him as his saviour.

17

17. Es danke Gott, wer danken kann,
Der unser sich so hoch nimmt an
Und sendet aus des Himmels Thron
Uns, seinen Feinden, seinen Sohn.

Thank God, whoever can give thanks,
Who raises us so high
and sends from Heaven's thr0ne
to us, his enemies, his own son.

18

18. Drum stimmt an mit der Engel Heer:
Gott in der Höhe sei nun Ehr,
Auf Erden Friede jederzeit,
Den Menschen Wonn und Fröhlichkeit.

Therefore join voices with the host of heaven:
Glory be to God on high,
peace now on the earth.
for mankind bliss and joy.

--

English Translation by Francis Browne (May 2009)
Contributed by Francis Browne (May 2009)

Weihnachts-Oratorium BWV 248: Details
Recordings: Until 1950 | 1951-1960 | 1961-1970 | 1971-1980 | 1981-1990 | 1991-2000 | From 2001 | Individual Movements
General Discussions:
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7
Systematic Discussions:
Cantata 1 | Cantata 2 | Cantata 3 | Cantata 4 | Cantata 5 | Cantata 6 | Part 7: Summary
Individual Recordings:
BWV 248 - Collegium Aureum | BWV 248 - H. Christophers | BWV 248 - J.E. Gardiner | BWV 248 - N. Harnoncourt | BWV 248 - R. Jacobs | BWV 248 - N. McGegan | BWV 248 - R. Otto | BWV 248 - K. Richter | BWV 248 - H. Rilling | BWV 248 - P. Schreier | BWV 248 - M. Suzuki | BWV 248 - K. Thomas | BWV 248 - J.v. Veldhoven
Articles:
A Bottomless Bucket of Bach - Christmas Oratorio [D. Satz]
BWV 248:
J.S. Bach - Weinachtsoratorium (Texte) | English-5 | Hebrew-1 | Hebrew-2 | Spanish-2
BWV 248/2:
German-1 | Translations: English-1 | English-3 | English-6 | French-4 | French-6 | Hebrew-1 | Hebrew-2 | Hungarian-1 | Indonesian | Russian-1


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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