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Cantata BWV 27
Wer weiß, wie nahe mir mein Ende?
English Translation in Interlinear Format
Cantata BWV 27 - Who knows how near my end is to me?

Event: Chorale Cantata for the 16th Sunday after Trinity
Readings:
Reading: Epistle: Ephesians 3: 13-21; Gospel: Luke 7: 11-17
Text: Ämilie Juliane von Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt (Mvt. 1); Johann Georg Albinus (Mvt. 6); Anon (Mvt. 2-5)
Chorale Texts: Wer weiß, wie nahe mir mein Ende | Alle Menschen müssen sterben

Biblical quotations in green font, chorales in purple

1

Chorale [S, A, T, B] and Recitative [Soprano, Alto, Tenor]

Corno, Oboe I/II, Violino I/II, Viola, Continuo

Wer weiß, wie nahe mir mein Ende?
Who knows how near my end is to me?

Soprano:
Das weiß der liebe Gott allein,
It is known only by the dear God
Ob meine Wallfahrt auf der Erden
whether my pilgrimage on earth
Kurz oder länger möge sein.
may be short or longer.

Hin geht die Zeit, her kommt der Tod,
Time departs, death approaches.

Alto:
Und endlich kommt es doch so weit,
And in the end there comes a point
Daß sie zusammentreffen werden.
that they will meet together.

Ach, wie geschwinde und behende
Ah, with what speed and agility
Kann kommen meine Todesnot!
my death agony can come !

Tenor:
Wer weiß, ob heute nicht
Who knows whether it is not today
Mein Mund die letzten Worte spricht.
that my mouth may speak my last words.
Drum bet ich alle Zeit:
Therefore I pray at all times:

Mein Gott, ich bitt durch Christi Blut,
My God, I pray through Christ's blood,
Mach's nur mit meinem Ende gut!
make sure my end is good !

2

Recitative [Tenor]

Continuo

Mein Leben hat kein ander Ziel,
My life has no other goal
Als daß ich möge selig sterben
than that I may die a blessed death
Und meines Glaubens Anteil erben;
and inherit the portion of my faith;
Drum leb ich allezeit
therefore I live at all times
Zum Grabe fertig und bereit,
ready and prepared for the grave
Und was das Werk der Hände tut,
and the work that my hand does
Ist gleichsam, ob ich sicher wüßte,
is just as if I knew for certain
Daß ich noch heute sterben müßte:
that I must die this very day:
Denn Ende gut, macht alles gut!
for a good end makes everything turn out well!

3

Aria [Alto]

Oboe da caccia, Organo obligato, Continuo

Willkommen! will ich sagen,
"Welcome!" I want to say
Wenn der Tod ans Bette tritt.
when death steps up to my bed
Fröhlich will ich folgen, wenn er ruft,
Happily I want to follow ,when he calls,
In die Gruft,
to the grave,
Alle meine Plagen
all my troubles
Nehm ich mit.
I take with me.

4

Recitativo [Soprano]

Violino I/II, Viola, Continuo

Ach, wer doch schon im Himmel wär!
Ah, to be in heaven already !
Ich habe Lust zu scheiden
I have a desire to depart
Und mit dem Lamm,
and with the lamb,
Das aller Frommen Bräutigam,
the bridegroom for all who are devout,
Mich in der Seligkeit zu weiden.
enjoy blissful pasture.
Flügel her!
Give me wings!
Ach, wer doch schon im Himmel wär!

Ah, to be in heaven already!

5

Aria [Bass]

Violino I/II, Viola, Continuo

Gute Nacht, du Weltgetümmel!
Goodnight, world's turmoil!
Itzt mach ich mit dir Beschluß;
Now I have done with you;
Ich steh schon mit einem Fuß
I stand already with one foot
Bei dem lieben Gott im Himmel
next to my dear God in heaven.

6

Chorale [S, A, T, B]

Corno e Oboe col Soprano I, Violino I col Soprano II, Violino II coll'Alto, Viola col Tenore, Continuo

Welt, ade! ich bin dein müde,
World, farewell! I am weary of you,
Ich will nach dem Himmel zu,
I want to go to heaven,
Da wird sein der rechte Friede
iin that place there will be true peace
Und die ewge, stolze Ruh.
and evelasting , noble rest
Welt, bei dir ist Krieg und Streit,
World, with you there is war and strife,
Nichts denn lauter Eitelkeit,
nothing but pure vanity,
In dem Himmel allezeit
in heaven there are forever
Friede, Freud und Seligkeit
peace, joy and bliss.

--

This Translation in Parallel Format

English Translation by Francis Browne (September 2002)
Contributed by Francis Browne (September 2002)

Cantata BWV 27: Wer weiß, wie nahe mir mein Ende? for 16th Sunday after Trinity (1726)
Discography: Details & Complete Recordings | Recordings of Individual Movements
Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

BWV 27 Text: German-1 | German-6 | German-7 | NBA Text
Translations: English-1 | English-3I | English-3P | English-6 | English-10 | English-13 | English-14
Catalan-1 | Chinese-2 | Danish-1 | Dutch-0 | Dutch-3 | French-1 | French-4 | French-5 | French-6 | Hebrew-1 | Indonesian-1 | Italian-2 | Norwegian-1 | Polish-1 | Polish-2 | Russian-1 | Russian-3 | Spanish-2 | Spanish-7 | Spanish/English-8
Chorale Texts: Wer weiß, wie nahe mir mein Ende [BWV 27/1] | Welt, ade! ich bin dein müde [BWV 27/6]

English Translations in Interlinear/Parallel Format (English-3): Sorted by BWV Number | Sorted by Title | Sorted 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: Monday, January 09, 2023 14:25