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Cantata BWV BWV 72
Alles nur nach Gottes Willen
Source Text plus Literal & Metrical English Translations
Cantata BWV 72 - Everything Only According to God’s Will

Occasion: 3rd Sunday after Epiphany
Scripture Assigned for that Sunday: Epistle: Romans 12: 17-21; Gospel: Matthew 8: 1-13
Authors of Texts: Salomo Franck (Movements 1 – 5), Markgraf Albrecht von Brandenburg (Movement 6)
Concluding Chorale (Movement 6): Was mein Gott will, das g'scheh allzeit

(Blank spaces are inserted in text to keep source lines and translations on the same line. Slash / indicates alternative possible word senses.)

German Source Text

Very Literal Translation

Metrical Performance Translation

1. Choro
Alles nur nach Gottes Willen,
So bei Lust als Traurigkeit,
So bei gut als böser Zeit.
Gottes Wille soll mich stillen
Bei Gewölk und Sonnenschein.
Alles nur nach Gottes Willen!
Dies soll meine Losung sein.

1. Chorus
Everything only according to God’s will,
That way in joy as [in] sorrow,
That way in good as in evil times.
God’s will shall me still/calm
In clouds or sunshine.
Everything only according to God’s will,
This shall be my motto/watchword.

1. Chorus
Everything just as God’s willing:
Be it so come joy or grief,
So in good or evil times.
What God wants shall give me calmness,
In dark clouds or when sun shines.
Everything just as God’s willing!
This shall my safe watchword be.

2. Recitativo e Arioso A
O selger Christ, der allzeit seinen Willen
In Gottes Willen senkt, es gehe wie es gehe,
Bei Wohl und Wehe.
Herr, so du willt, so muss sich alles fügen!
Herr, so du willt, so kannst du mich vergnügen!
Herr, so du willt, verschwindet meine Pein!
Herr, so du willt, werd ich gesund und rein!
Herr, so du willt, wird Traurigkeit zur Freude!
Herr, so du willt, und ich auf Dornen Weide!
Herr, so du willt, werd ich einst selig sein!
Herr, so du willt, - lass mich dies Wort im Glauben fassen
Und meine Seele stillen! -
Herr, so du willt, so sterb ich nicht,
Ob Leib und Leben mich verlassen,
Wenn mir dein Geist dies Wort ins Herze spricht!

2. Recitative and Arioso (Alto)
O blessed Christian who always his will
In God’s will sinks/submerges, go as things go [=however things may work out],
In weal/good-times and [in] woe/trouble.
Lord, as thou willest, so must it all be fitting/consistent/hanging-together,!
Lord, as thou willst, so thou canst make me content!
Lord, as thou willst, vanishes my pain!
Lord, as thou willst, become I healthy and pure!
Lord, as thou willst, sadness becomes joy!
Lord, as thou willst, and I on thorns [must] pasture!
Lord, as thou willst, will/shall I one day blessed be!
Lord, as thou willst, - let me this word in faith grasp [ahold of]!
And my soul still [=quiet/set at peace] ! -
Lord, as thou willst, so die I not,
[Even] if body and life me abandon,
If/when to me thy spirit this word into [my] heart speaks!

2. Recitative and Arioso (Alto)
O Christian blest who fits all his desire
To what God wills, immersed, no matter how things turn out,
In good and hard times.
Lord, as you will, whatever comes is fitting!
Lord, as you will, you can make me contented!
Lord, as you will, so vanishes my pain!
Lord, as you will, I shall be well and pure!
Lord, as you will, deep grief becomes rejoicing!
Lord, if you will, and I on thorns must pasture,
Lord, if you will, one day I will be blest!
Lord, as you will - let me this word in faith grasp hold of,
And my soul’s turmoil quiet! -
Lord, as you will, then I’ll not die,
Though life and body me abandon,
When to my heart your Spirit this word speaks!

3. Aria A
Mit allem, was ich hab und bin,
Will ich mich Jesu lassen,
Kann gleich mein schwacher Geist und Sinn
Des Höchsten Rat nicht fassen;
Er führe mich nur immer hin
Auf Dorn- und Rosenstraßen!

3. Aria (Alto)
With all which I have and am,
Want I myself to Jesus let go/relinquish,
Can, though, my weak Spirit and mind
The Highest’s coiunsel not grasp;
[May] he lead me only (simply) ever forth
On thorn-and-roses streets/paths!

3. Aria (Alto)
With everything I have and am,
I would leave all to Jesus,
Despite that my weak heart and mind
Find High God’s plan a puzzle;
May he just lead me always on
Down thorns’ and roses’ pathways!

4. Recitativo B
So glaube nun!
Dein Heiland saget: Ich wills tun!
Er pflegt die Gnadenhand
Noch willigst auszustrecken,
Wenn Kreuz und Leiden dich erschrecken,
Er kennet deine Not und löst dein Kreuzesband.
Er stärkt, was schwach,
Und will das niedre Dach
Der armen Herzen nicht verschmähen,
Darunter gnädig einzugehen.

4. Recitative (Bass)

So believe now!
Thy redeemer/savior says: I want that done!
He tends/maintains the Gracious Hand
Yet granting/allowing to stretch out
When cross and suffering thee frighten.
He’s acquainted with thy need and unties thy cross’s band.
He strengthens what’s weak
And wishes the low roof
Of the poor heart not to spurn,
[But rather] thereunder graciously to go (enter in).

4. Recitative (Bass)
So now believe!
Your Savior’s saying: “I want that!”,
Always the gracious hand,
He stretches out to touch you,
When cross and suff’ring scare and shock you.
For he perceives your need, unties your suffering’s band,
Makes strong what’s weak,
And will the cramping roof
Of poor hearts not think too beneath him;
But there he’ll kindly deign to enter.

5. Aria S
Mein Jesus will es tun, er will dein Kreuz versüßen.
Obgleich dein Herze liegt in viel Bekümmernissen,
Soll es doch sanft und still in seinen Armen ruhn,
Wenn ihn der Glaube fasst; mein Jesus will es tun!

5. Aria (Soprano)
My Jesus will it do, he wills thy cross to sweeten.
Even though thy heart lies in many sorrows,
It shall yet soft and still in his arms rest,
When it [i.e. thy heart] the Faith
[subject of clause] grasps; my Jesus wills it [to] do!

5. Aria (Soprano)
My Jesus wills it done, he will your cross make sweeter.
Although your heart lies torn, by heavy sorrows wearied,
Yet it shall soft and still held in his arms find rest:
When heart is held by faith; my Jesus wills it done!

6. Choral

Was mein Gott will, das g'scheh allzeit,
Sein Will, der ist der beste,
Zu helfen den'n er ist bereit,
Die an ihn glauben feste.
Er hilft aus Not, der fromme Gott,
Und züchtiget mit Maßen.
Wer Gott vertraut, fest auf ihn baut,
Den will er nicht verlassen.

6. Chorale
What my God wills, may that happen always,
His will, that is the best,
To help them he is ready
They who on him believe strongly.
He helps out of need/trouble, the good God,
And disciplines with measure.
Who/whoever trusts God, strongly on him builds,
Him (i.e. the trusting person) will he (i.e. God) not abandon.

6. Chorale
What my God wills, let it play out,
What he wills is superior.
To help all folk he is prepared
Who him in trust hold firmly.
He helps in need, this righteous God,
And disciplines with fairness.
Who trust in God, firm on him build,
Those will God not abandon.

     

Salomo Franck (Movements 1 – 5), Markgraf Albrecht von Branden-burg (Movement 6)

English Translation by Paul Farseth
(March, 2016)

English Translation by Paul Farseth
(March, 2016)

     

This Translation in Interlinear ormat

 

Contributed by Paul Farseth (March 2016)

Cantata BWV 72: Alles nur nach Gottes Willen for 3rd Sunday after Epiphany (1726)
Discography: Details & Complete Recordings | Recordings of Individual Movements
Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

BWV 72 Text: German-1 | German-6 | German-7 | NBA Text
Translations: English-1 | English-3I | English-3P | English-6 | English-8I | English-8P | English-10 | English-14
Catalan-1 | Chinese-2 | Danish-1 | Dutch-0 | Dutch-3 | Dutch-5 | French-1 | French-4 | French-5 | French-6 | Hebrew-1 | Indonesian-1 | Italian-2 | Japanese-6 | Norwegian-1 | Polish-1 | Polish-2 | Portuguese-1 | Russian-1 | Russian-3 | Spanish-3 | Spanish-7 | Spanish/English-8
Chorale Text: Was mein Gott will, das g'scheh allzeit [BWV 72/6]

English Translations (English-8): Sorted by BWV Number | Sorted by Title | Sorted by Event


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: Thursday, September 22, 2022 03:36