Recordings/Discussions
Background Information
Performer Bios

Poet/Composer Bios

Additional Information

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


Cantata BWV 33
Allein zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ
English Translation in Parallel Format
Cantata BWV 33 - Alone towards you, Lord Jesus Christ

Event: Chorale Cantata for the 13th Sunday after Trinity
Readings: Epistle Galatians 3: 15-22; Gospel: Luke 10: 23-37
Text: Konrad Hubert (Mvts. 1, 6); Anon (Mvts. 2-5)
Chorale Text: Allein zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ

Biblical quotations in green font, chorales in purple

 

Original German Text

 

English Translation

1

Choral

1

Chorus (Chorale) [S, A, T, B]

 

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

   
 

Allein zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ,
Mein Hoffnung steht auf Erden;
Ich weiß, dass du mein Tröster bist,
Kein Trost mag mir sonst werden.
Von Anbeginn ist nichts erkorn,
Auf Erden war kein Mensch geborn,
Der mir aus Nöten helfen kann.
Ich ruf dich an,
Zu dem ich mein Vertrauen hab.

 

Alone towards you, Lord Jesus Christ,
my hope on earth looks;
I know that you are my comforter,
nowhere else can there be any comfort for me.
From the very beginning nothing has been decreed,
no man was born on earth
who can help me out of my troubles.
I call to you
in whom I put my trust.

       

2

Recitativo B

2

Recitative [Bass]

 

Continuo

   
 

Mein Gott und Richter, willt du mich aus dem Gesetze fragen,
So kann ich nicht,
Weil mein Gewissen widerspricht,
Auf tausend eines sagen.
An Seelenkräften arm und an der Liebe bloß,
Und meine Sünd ist schwer und übergroß;
Doch weil sie mich von Herzen reuen,
Wirst du, mein Gott und Hort,
Durch ein Vergebungswort
Mich wiederum erfreuen.

 

My God and judge, if you want to question me by the law,
then I am unable
- since my conscience contradicts me -
to say one thing against a thousand.
In my soul's strength I am weak and in my love bare,
and my sin is heavy and too great;
but since I repent my sins from my heart,
you will, my God and refuge,
through your word of forgiveness
give me joy again.

       

3

Aria A

3

Aria [Alto]

 

Violino I con sordino, Violino II, Viola, Continuo

   
 

Wie furchtsam wankten meine Schritte,
Doch Jesus hört auf meine Bitte
Und zeigt mich seinem Vater an.
Mich drückten Sündenlasten nieder,
Doch hilft mir Jesu Trostwort wieder,
Dass er für mich genung getan.

 

How fearfully were faltering my footsteps,
but Jesus listens to my entreaties
and bears witness for me to his Father.
The burden of my sins weighed down heavily on me,
but Jesus' word of comfort reassures me
that he has done enough for me.

       

4

Recitativo T

4

Recitative [Tenor]

 

Continuo

   
 

Mein Gott, verwirf mich nicht,
Wiewohl ich dein Gebot noch täglich übertrete,
Von deinem Angesicht!
Das kleinste ist mir schon zu halten viel zu schwer;
Doch, wenn ich um nichts mehr
Als Jesu Beistand bete,
So wird mich kein Gewissensstreit
Der Zuversicht berauben;
Gib mir nur aus Barmherzigkeit
Den wahren Christenglauben!

So stellt er sich mit guten Früchten ein
Und wird durch Liebe tätig sein.

 

My God, do not cast me away
- even though every day I still overstep your commandment -
from your face!
The smallest thing is far too difficult for me to keep;
but if I pray for nothing more
than Jesus' assistance,
no conflict of conscience
c
an take my confidence away from me.
In your mercy give me only
true Christian faith!
This faith is apparent in good fruits
and will be active through love.

       

5

Aria (Duetto) T B

5

Aria (Duet) [Tenor, Bass]

 

Oboe I/II, Continuo

   
 

Gott, der du die Liebe heißt,
Ach, entzünde meinen Geist,
Laß zu dir vor allen Dingen
Meine Liebe kräftig dringen!
Gib, dass ich aus reinem Triebe
Als mich selbst den Nächsten liebe;
Stören Feinde meine Ruh,
Sende du mir Hülfe zu!

 

God, you who are called love,
ah, enkindle my spirit,
towards you before everything else
let my love strongly push its way!
Grant that from a pure impulse
I may love my neighbour as myself.
f enemies disturb my peace,
then send me your help!

       

6

Choral

6

Chorale [S, A, T, B]

 

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

 

Ehr sei Gott in dem höchsten Thron,
Dem Vater aller Güte,
Und Jesu Christ, sein'm liebsten Sohn,
Der uns allzeit behüte,
Und Gott dem Heiligen Geiste,
Der uns sein Hülf allzeit leiste,
Damit wir ihm gefällig sein,
Hier in dieser Zeit
Und folgends in der Ewigkeit.

 

Honour be to God on the highest throne,
to the Father of all goodness
and to Jesus Christ, his dearest Son,
who protects us always,
and to God the Holy Spirit,
who always supports us with his help,
so that we may be pleasing to him.
here in this time
and thereafter in eternity.

       

This Translation in Interlinear Format + Note on the Text

English Translation by Francis Browne (August 2002, January 2012)

Contributed by Francis Browne (January 2012)

Cantata BWV 33: Allein zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ for 13th Sunday after Trinity (1724)
Discography: Details & Complete Recordings | Recordings of Individual Movements
Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

BWV 33 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-2 | Danish-1 | Dutch-0 | Dutch-3 | French-1 | French-4 | French-5 | French-6 | Hebrew-1 | Hungarian-1 | Indonesian-1 | Italian-2 | Italian-4 | Norwegian-1 | Polish-1 | Polish-2 | Russian-1 | Russian-3 | Spanish-2 | Spanish-4 | Spanish-7 | Spanish/English-8
Chorale Text: Allein zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ [BWV 33/1,6

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




 

Back to the Top


Last update: Monday, January 09, 2023 14:25