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


Text for Cantata 81
Jesus schläft, was soll ich hoffen

Original German Text

English Translation

1. ARIA (Alt)

Jesus schläft, was soll ich hoffen?
Seh ich nicht
mit erblasstem Angesicht
schon des Todes Abgrund offen?

Jesus sleeps, what hope do I have?
Do I not see
with an ashen face
the chasm of death already open?

2. REZITATIV (Tenor)

Herr! warum trittest du so ferne?
Warum verbirgst du dich zur Zeit der Not,
da alles mir ein kläglich Ende droht?
Ach, wird dein Auge nicht durch meine Not beweget
so sonsten nie zu schlummern pfleget?
Du wiesest ja mit einem Sterne
vordem den neubekehrten Weisen,
den rechten Weg zu reisen.
Ach leite mich durch deiner Augen Licht,
weil dieser Weg nichts als Gefahr verspricht.

Lord! why do you tread so far away?
Why do you conceal yourself at this time of need
while a tragic ending looms before me?
Alas, will my agony not catch your eye
which otherwise never tends to sleep?
Once you pointed out the correct route
of travel to the newly converted Wisemen
by way of a star.
Oh, guide me by the light of your eye
for this course promises nothing but peril.

3. ARIA (Tenor)

Die schäumenden Wellen von Belials Bächen
verdoppeln die Wut.
Ein Christ soll zwar wie Felsen stehn,
wenn Trübsalswinde um ihn gehn,
doch suchet die stürmende Flut
die Kräfte des Glaubens zu schwächen.

The frothy waves from Satan’s torrents
double their fury.
A Christian should of course stand like rocky cliffs
as the winds of tribulation swirl about him,
for the tempestuous flood seeks
to erode the power of faith.

4. ARIOSO (Baß)

Ihr Kleingläubigen,
warum seid ihr so furchtsam?

You of little faith
why are you so afraid?

5. ARIA (Baß)

Schweig, aufgetürmtes Meer!
Verstumme, Sturm und Wind!
Dir sei dein Ziel gesetzet,
damit mein auserwähltes Kind
kein Unfall je verletzet.

Be still, towering sea!
Silence, storm and wind!
Your intent is allayed
whereby no calamity may ever harm
my chosen child.

6. REZITATIV (Alt)

Wohl mir, mein Jesus spricht ein Wort,
mein Helfer ist erwacht,
so muß der Wellen Sturm, des Unglücks Nacht
und aller Kummer fort.

Blessed am I, my Jesus utters a word,
my helper has awoken,
so must the storm of waves, the night of misfortune
and all worry be gone.

7. CHORAL

Unter deinen Schirmen
bin ich für den Stürmen
aller Feinde frei.
Laß den Satan wittern,
laß den Feind erbittern,
mir steht Jesus bei.
Ob es itzt gleich kracht und blitzt,
ob gleich Sünd und Hölle schrecken:
Jesus will mich decken.

Beneath your umbrella
I am free from the tempest
of any foes.
Let Satan storm,
let the foe fume,
Jesus stands beside me.
If now suddenly thunder and lightning crash,
if suddenly sin and hell terrorize:
Jesus will cover me.


COMPOSED: January 30, 1724 (Leipzig) for the 4th Sunday after Epiphany
LIBRETTIST: unknown, Mvt. 2. Partially Psalm 10:1; Mvt. 4. Matthew 8:26; Mvt. 7. Johann Franck, stanza 2 of Jesu, meine Freude (1650)
TRANSLATION: 2022 © Tobin Schmuck, NYC
Print by permission only, please. Click here.

Cantata BWV 81: Jesus schläft, was soll ich hoffen? for 4th Sunday after Epiphany (1724)
Discography: Details & Complete Recordings | Recordings of Individual Movements
Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

BWV 81 Text: German-1 | German-6 | German-7 | NBA Text
Translations: English-1 | English-3I | English-3P | English-6 | English-7 | English-10 | English-14
Catalan-1 | Chinese-2 | Dutch-0 | Dutch-3 | French-4 | French-5 | French-6 | Hebrew-1 | Hungarian-1 | Indonesian-1 | Italian-2 | Norwegian-1 | Polish-1 | Polish-2 (version 1) | Polish-2 (version 2) | Russian-1 | Russian-3 | Spanish-3 | Spanish-7 | Spanish/English-8
Emblemata: BWV 81/3
Chorale Text: Jesu, meine Freude [BWV 81/7]

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 14:12