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Cantata BWV 65
Sie werden aus Saba alle kommen
Source Text plus Literal & Metrical English Translations
Cantata BWV 65 - They will all come from Sheba |
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Event: Feast of Epiphany
Readings: Epistle: Isaah 60: 1-6; Gospel: Matthew 2: 1-12
Text: Isaiah 60: 6 (Mvt. 1); Paul Gerhardt (Mvt 7); Anon (Mvts. 2-6)
Chorale Texts: Ein Kind geborn zu Bethlehem | Ich hab in Gottes Herz und Sinn |
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German Source Text |
Slavishly Literal Translation |
Metrical Performance Translation |
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1. Choro
»Sie werden aus Saba alle kommen,
Gold und Weihrauch
bringen und des Herren Lob verkündigen.« |
1. Chorus
"They will from Sheba all come,
gold and [frank]incense
bring and the Lord's praise proclaim." |
1. Chorus
"They shall be from Sheba all of them come,
gold and incense
bringing and the Lord's praises to all telling." |
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2. Choral
Die Kön’ge aus Saba kamen dar,
Gold, Weihrauch, Myrrhen brachten sie dar,
alleluja, alleluja! |
2. Chorale
The kings from Sheba came there.
Gold, [frank]incense, myrrh brought they there,
Alleluia! |
2. Chorale
The ki_ngs from Sheba came to there,
gold, incense, and myrrh brought they there,
Alleluia, Alleluia! |
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3. Recitativo (Bass)
Was dort Jesaias vorhergesehn,
das ist zu Bethlehem geschehn.
Hier stellen sich die Weisen
bei Jesu Krippen ein
und wollen ihn als ihren König preisen.
Gold, Weihrauch, Myrrhen sind
die köstlichen Geschenke,
womit sie dieses Jesuskind
zu Bethlehem im Stall beehren.
Mein Jesu, wenn ich itzt an meine
Pflicht gedenke,
muß ich mich auch zu deiner Krippen kehren
und gleichfalls dankbar sein:
Denn dieser Tag ist mir ein Tag der Freuden,
da du, o Lebensfürst,
das Licht der Heiden
und ihr Erlöser wirst.
Was aber bring ich wohl, du Himmelskönig?
Ist dir mein Herze nicht zuwenig,
so nimm es gnädig an,
weil ich nichts Edlers bringen kann. |
3. Recitative (Bass)
What there Isaiah previously foresaw,
that is in Bethlehem occurred.
Here put themselves the wise [men]
by Jesus' crib
and will him as their king praise/value.
Gold, incense, myrrh are
the precious/costly gifts,
with which they this Jesus child
in Bethlehem in the stall give honor.
My Jesus, when I now on my
duty contemplate/give thought,
must I myself also to thy crib turn
and likewise thankful be:
for this Day is to me a day of joy
that thou, O Prince of Life,
the light of the heathen/gentiles/nations
and their redeemer become.
But what bring I well, thou
King of Heaven?
Is to you my heart not too paltry,
so take it (accept it) [out of] grace/mercy
because I nothing nobler can bring. |
3. Recitative (Bass)
What there Isaiah of old foresaw
has happened now in Bethlehem.
Here set themselves the wise men
around by Jesus' crib
and wish for him as their own king to honor.
Gold, incense, and myrrh are
the costliest of presents,
with which they now this Jesus child
in Bethlehem in stall give honor.
My Jesus, when I now on my own
duty give thought
I must also to your poor crib be turning
and like them thankful be:
Because this day's for me one of rejoicing,
that you, O Prince of Life,
are th' light of Nations
and their redeemer come.
But what should I bring to you,
King of Heaven?
Though my poor heart for you be paltry,
so take it yet in Grace,
since I no nobler gift can bring. |
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4. Aria (Bass)
Gold aus Ophir ist zu schlecht,
weg, nur weg mit eitlen Gaben,
die ihr aus der Erden brecht!
Jesus will das Herze haben.
Schenke dies, o Christenschar,
Jesu zu dem neuen Jahr! |
4. Aria (Bass)
Gold from Ophir is too bad,
away, just away with vain/idle gifts
that you out of the earth break!
Jesus wants the heart to have.
Present this, O Christian flock,
to Jesus at the new year! |
4. Aria (Bass)
Gold from Ophir is too cheap,
out, throw out the pointless presents
that you claw from mineshafts deep:
Jesus wants your heart and presence!
Present these, O Christians dear
To Jesus at the opening year! |
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5. Recitativo (Tenor)
Verschmähe nicht,
du, meiner Seelen Licht,
mein Herz, das ich in Demut zu dir bringe.
Es schließt ja solche Dinge
in sich zugleich mit ein,
die deines Geistes Früchte sein.
Des Glaubens Gold, der Weihrauch des Gebets,
die Myrrhen der Geduld sind meine Gaben,
die sollst du, Jesu, für und für
zum Eigentum und zum Geschenke haben.
Gib aber dich auch selber mir,
so machst du mich zum Reichsten auf der Erden;
denn, hab ich dich, so muß
des größten Reichtums Überfluß
mir dermaleinst im Himmel werden. |
5. Recitative (Tenor)
Scorn not,
thou, my soul's light,
my heart, which I in humility to thee bring.
It encloses yea such things
in itself (equivalent with that)
that your Spirit's fruits are.
Faith's gold, the incense of prayer,
the myrrh of patience are my gifts,
which shallst thou, Jesus for ever and ever
as property and as offering have.
Give, however, also yourself to me,
So make you me the richest [man] on the earth;
for if I have thee, so must
the greatest wealth's overflow
to me then once in Heaven come. |
5. Recitative (Tenor)
Do not despise
Lord (my poor soul's true light)
my heart, which I in humbleness now bring you.
It bears such things within it
as make equivalence,
they're your own Spirit's fruits within.
The gold of faith, the incense of my prayers,
the myrrh of patience: these are all my off'rings,
which you shall, Jesus, evermore
as property and as your presents posess.
But give as well yourself to me,
and you'll make me the richest of all people;
if I have you, so must
the hugest riches' overflow
for me one day at last in Heaven be mine. |
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6. Aria (Tenor)
Nimm mich dir zu eigen hin,
nimm mein Herze zum Geschenke.
Alles, alles, was ich bin,
was ich rede, tu und denke,
soll, mein Heiland, nur allein
dir zum Dienst gewidmet sein. |
6. Aria (Tenor)
Take me to Thee as Thine forth,
Take my heart as offering/present.
All, all, that I am,
what I speak, do, and think,
shall, my Savior, only alone
to Thee for [Thy] service dedicated be. |
6. Aria (Tenor)
Now take me, let me be yours,
Take my heart to be an off'ring.
All that I am, all my hours,
What I'm saying, doing, thinking,
Now, my healer, yours alone
For your service you shall own. |
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7. Choral
Ei nun, mein Gott, so fall ich dir
getrost in deine Hände.
Nimm mich und mach es so mit mir
bis an mein letztes Ende,
wie du wohl weißt,
daß meinem Geist
dadurch sein Nutz entstehe,
und deine Ehr
je mehr und mehr
sich in mir selbst erhöhe. |
7. Chorale
Ah, now, my God, so fall I to Thee
given solace in Thy hands.
Take me and make it [deal] thus with me
until/up-to my final end,
as now Thou well knowest [how],
so that my spirit
through this usage may ascend,
and Thy honor
yea more and more
may itself in my self be raised up. |
7. Chorale
Ah now, my God, I fall to you,
Consoled in your hands' keeping.
Take me and make it so with me
Until my final sleeping,
As you best know,
May my soul go
This way of life ascending,
To your honor
Yea more and more
May how I live be singing. |
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- Unknown librettist; Part 1 Scripture quotation from Isaiah 60:1-6;
Part 2 based on Matthew 2:1-12 and the Latin hymn "Puer Natus in Bethlehem";
Part 7 chorale from Paul Gerhardt's hymn "Ich hab in Gottes Herz und Sinn". |
- Translation © 2013 by Paul Farseth |
- Translation © 2013 by Paul Farseth |
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Contributed by Paul Farseth (December 2013) |
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