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Wir singen dir, Immanuel
Text and Translation of Chorale

EKG:
Author: Paul Gerhardt (1656)
Chorale Melody: | Composer: ()

 

Vocal Works by J.S. Bach:

Ver

Work

Mvt.

Year

Br

RE

KE

Di

BC

Type

 

2

BWV 248/2

Mvt. 14

1734

         

Chorale [S, A, T, B]

 
 
 

German Text (verses in bold print set by Bach)

English Translation

1

Wir singen dir, Immanuel,
Du Lebensfürst und Gnadenquell,
Du Himmelsblum und Morgenstern,
Du Jungfraunsohn, Herr aller Herrn!
Halleluja!

We sing to you, Immanuel,
You prince of life and source of grace,
New flower of heaven and morning star
You virgin's son, Lord of all Lords!
Halleluja!

2

Wir singen dir in deinem Heer
Aus aller Kraft Lob, Preis und Her
Daß du, o lang gewünschter Gast,
Dich nunmehr eingestellet hast.
Halleluja!

We sing to you in your host
With all power,glory . praise and honour
because you, guest long desired
have finally now appeared
Halleluja!

3

Vom Anfang, da die Welt gemacht,
Hat so manch Herz nach dir gewacht;
Dich hat gehofft so lange Jahr
Der Väter und Propheten Schar.
Halleluja!

From the beginning , when the world was made
So many hearts have kept watch for you;
For long years you were hoped for
By a host of fathers and prophets.
Halleluja !

4

Vor andern hat dein hoch begehrt
Der Hirt und König deiner Herd,
Der Mann, der dir so wohl gefiel,
Wann er dir sang auf Saitenspiel.
Halleluja!

Before others you were greatly desired by
Shepherd and King of your flock,
The man, who pleased you so well,
When he sang to you playing on his harp.
Halleluja

5

Ach, daß der Herr aus Zion käm
Und unsre Bande von uns nähm!
Ach, daß die Hilfe bräch herein,
So würde Jakob fröhlich sein.
Halleluja!

Ah, if only the Lord would come from Zion
And take our bonds from us!
A h, if only help would come to us,
Then would Jacob be joyful. His
Halleluja !

6

Nun du bist hier, da liegest du,
Hältst in dem Kripplein deine Ruh;
Bist klein und machst doch alles groß, groß,
Bekleidst die Welt und kommst doch bloß bloß.
Halleluja!

Now you are here, there you lie,
You take your rest in your manger;
You are little and yet make everything great
You clothe the world,and yet come naked
Halleluja !

7

Du kehrst in fremder Hausung ein,
Und sind doch alle Himmel dein;
Trinkst Milch aus deiner Mutter Brust
Und bist doch selbst der Engel Lust.
Halleluja!

You lodge in a stranger's house
And yet all the heavens are yours;
You drink milk from her mother's breast
And yet you are a delight of Angels.
Halleluja !

8

Du hast dem Meer sein Ziel gesteckt
Und wirst mit Windeln zugedeckt;
Bist Gott und liegst auf Heu und Stroh,
Wirst Mensch und bist doch A und O.
Halleluja!

You have set the boundary for the sea
And are bound in swaddling clothes;
You are God and lie on hay and straw,
You become man and yet are alpha and omega
Halleluja !

9

Du bist der Ursprung aller Freud
Und duldest so viel Herzeleid;
Bist aller Heiden Trost und Licht,
Suchst selber Trost und findst ihn nicht.
Halleluja!

You are the origin of all joy
And endure so much heartache;
You are all the Gentiles comfort and light
But you seek comfort and do not find it
Halleluja !

10

Du bist der süße Menschenfreund,
Doch sind dir so viel Menschen feind;
Herodis Heer hält dich für Greul
Und bist doch nichts als lauter Heil.
Halleluja!

You are the sweet friend of mankind
But so many men are your enemies;
Herod's army consider you an abomination
And yet you are nothing but pure salvation
Halleluja !.

11

Ich aber, dein geringster Knecht,
Ich sag es frei und mein es recht:
Ich liebe dich, doch nicht so viel,
Als ich dich gerne lieben will.
Halleluja!

But I, least of all your servants,
I say it freely and mean it truly:
I love you, but not so much
As I would willingly love you
Hallelujah

12

Der Will ist da, die Kraft ist klein;
Doch wird dir nicht zuwider sein
Mein armes Herz, und was es kann,
Wirst du in Gnaden nehmen an.
Halleluja!

The will is there, my strength is little
But you will not be contrary to
My poor heart and what it can do ,
You will accept in your mercy
Halleluja !

13

Hast du doch selbst dich schwach gemacht
Erwähltest, was die Welt veracht't;
Warst arm und dürftig, nahmst vorlieb
Da, wo der Mangel dich hintrieb.
Halleluja!

You have made yourself weak,
Chosen what the world despises;
You were poor and needy,preferred to be
There, where poverty drove you
Halleluja !

14

Du schliefst ja auf der Erden Schoß;
So war das Kripplein auch nicht groß;
Der Stall, das Heu, das dich umfing,
War alles schlecht und sehr gering.
Halleluja!

You slept indeed on the earth's lap,
For the crib was also not big;
The stable, the hay around you
Were all mean and scanty.
Halleluja!

15

Darum so hab ich guten Mut:
Du wirst auch halten mich für gut.
O Jesulein, dein frommer Sinn
16. Macht, daß ich so voll Trostes bin.
Halleluja!

Therefore if I have good courage,
You will also take me to be good,
O dear Jesus,your righteous mind
Is the reason that I am full of comfort
Halleluja !

16

Bin ich gleich sünd- und lastervoll,
Hab ich gelebt nicht, wie ich soll,
Ei, kommst du doch deswegen her,
Daß sich der Sünder zu dir kehr.
Halleluja!

If I am full of sin and vice,
If I have not lived as I should,
Well, you came here for this reason,
So that sinners should turn to you
Halleluja!

17

Hätt ich nicht auf mir Sündenschuld,
Hätt ich kein Teil an deiner Huld;
Vergeblich wärst du mir geborn,
Wenn ich nicht wär in Gottes Zorn.
Halleluja!

If I did not have sinful guilt,
If I had no share in your grace,
In vaun you would be born for me,
Since I would not be in God's anger.
Halleluja

18

So faß ich dich nun ohne Scheu,
Du machst mich alles Jammers frei;
Du trägst den Zorn, du würgst den Tod,
Verkehrst in Freud all Angst und Not.
Halleluja!

Therefore I grasp you now without timidity,
You make me free from all lamentation,
You bear the anger, you stranngle death,
You turn into joy all anxiety and distress.
Halleluja !

19

Du bist mein Haupt, hinwiederum
Bin ich dein Glied und Eigentum
Und will, so viel dein Geist mir gibt,
Stets dienen dir, wie dir's beliebt.
Halleluja!

You are my head, while I on the other hand
Am your limb and property
And, in so far as you give me your spirit,
I shall serve you always, as is pleasing to you
Halleluja

20

Ich will dein Halleluja hier
Mit Freuden singen für und für
Und dort in deinem Ehrensaal
Solls schallen ohne Zeit und Zahl.
Halleluja!

I shall sing your halleluja here
Joyfully for ever
And there in your hall of honour
It will resound without end or limit
Halleluja!

--

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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