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


Text for Cantata 135
Ach Herr, mich armen Sünder

Original German Text

English Translation

1. CHOR

Ach Herr, mich armen Sünder
straf nicht in deinem Zorn,
dein ernsten Grimm doch linder,
sonst ists mit mir verlorn.
Ach Herr, wollst mir vergeben
mein Sünd und gnädig sein,
daß ich mag ewig leben,
entfliehn der Höllenpein.

Oh Lord, me a poor sinner
do not chastise in your scorn,
your intense fury do lessen
lest I be doomed.
Oh Lord, would that you forgive me
my sins and be merciful
that I might live eternally
escaping the pain of hell.

2. REZITATIV (Tenor)

Ach heile mich, du Arzt der Seelen,
ich bin sehr krank und schwach;
man möchte die Gebeine zählen,
so jämmerlich hat mich mein Ungemach,
mein Kreuz und Leiden zugericht;
das Angesicht ist ganz von Tränen aufgeschwollen,
die, schnellen Fluten gleich, von Wangen abwärts rollen.
Der Seelen ist von Schrecken angst und bange;
ach, du Herr, wie so lange?

Oh heal me, you physician of the soul,
I am quite ill and feeble;
one can count my bones
so pathetically has my hardship,
my cross and suffering ravished me;
my face is fully swollen from tears
which like rushing torrents roll down my cheeks.
My soul is worried and anxious with fear;
oh, you Lord, why so long?

3. ARIA (Tenor)

Tröste mir, Jesu, mein Gemüte,
sonst versink ich in den Tod,
hilf mir, hilf mir durch deine Güte
aus der großen Seelennot!
Denn im Tod ist alles stille,
da gedenkt man deiner nicht.
Liebster Jesu, ists dein Wille,
so erfreu mein Angesicht!

Comfort my soul within me, Jesus,
lest I sink into death,
help me, help me by your goodness,
out of my soul's great agony!
For in death all is still,
there one is not mindful of you.
Dearest Jesus, if it is your will,
then cheer my countenance!

4. REZITATIV (Alt)

Ich bin von Seufzen müde,
mein Geist hat weder Kraft noch Macht,
weil ich die ganze Nacht
oft ohne Seelenruh und Friede
in großem Schweiß und Tränen liege.
Ich gräme mich fast tot
und bin vor Trauern alt,
denn meine Angst ist mannigfalt.

I am weary from groaning,
my spirit lacks both power and might,
for the whole night through I
often with no rest for the soul nor peace
lie in excessive sweat and tears.
I almost fret myself to death
and am aged from grieving,
for my anxiety is manifold.

5. ARIA (Baß)

Weicht, all ihr Übeltäter,
mein Jesus tröstet mich!
Er läßt nach Tränen und nach Weinen
die Freudensonne wieder scheinen;
das Trübsalswetter ändert sich,
die Feinde müssen plötzlich fallen
und ihre Pfeile rückwärts prallen.

Yield, all you evildoers,
my Jesus consoles me!
He lets, following tears and weeping,
the sun of joy to shine once more;
the storm of tribulation averts itself,
foes must abruptly fall
and their arrows recoil backwards.

6. CHORAL

Ehr sei ins Himmels Throne
mit hohem Ruhm und Preis
dem Vater und dem Sohne
und auch zu gleicher Weis
dem Heilgen Geist mit Ehren
in alle Ewigkeit,
der woll uns alln bescheren
die ewge Seligkeit.

Glory be unto heaven's throne
with high esteem and praise
to the Father and to the Son
and equally so as well
to the Holy Spirit with glory
throughout eternity,
who will bestow on us all
everlasting blessedness.


COMPOSED: June 25, 1724 (Leipzig) for the 3rd Sunday after Trinity
LIBRETTIST: unknown; from the hymn by Cyriakus Schneegaß (1597) based largely on Psalm 6; Mvt. 1 chorale tune, Hans Leo Hassler, Herzlich tut mich verlangen (1601)
TRANSLATION: 2017 © Tobin Schmuck, NYC
Print by permission only, please. Click here.

Cantata BWV 135: Ach Herr, mich armen Sünder for 3rd Sunday after Trinity (1724)
Discography: Details & Complete Recordings | Recordings of Individual Movements
Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

BWV 135 Text: German-1 | German-6 | German-7 | NBA Text
Translations: English-1 | English-3I | English-3P | English-6 | English-10 | English-14
Catalan-1 | Chinese-1 | Chinese-2 | Danish-1 | Dutch-0 | Dutch-4 | French-4 | French-5 | French-6 | Hebrew-1 | Indonesian-1 | Italian-2 | Norwegian-1 | Polish-1 | Russian-1 | Russian-3 | Spanish-3 | Spanish-7 | Spanish/English-8
Chorale Text: Ach Herr, mich armen Sünder [BWV 135/1,~2-5,6]

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 14:09