Singen wir aus Herzensgrund
Text and Translation of Chorale

EKG:
Author: Hans Vogel ()
Chorale Melody: | Composer: ()

Vocal Works by J.S. Bach:

Ver

Work

Mvt.

Year

Br

RE

KE

Di

BC

Type

4,6

BWV 187

Mvt. 7

1726

109

109

308

A110:7

Chorale [S, A, T, B]

German Text (verses in bold print set by Bach)

English Translation

1

Singen wir aus Herzensgrund,
loben Gott mit unserm Mund.
Wie er sein Güt an uns beweist,
Also hat er uns auch gespeist;
wie er Tier und Vögel ernährt,
ao hat er uns auch beschert,
welchs wir jetzund habn verzehrt

Let us sing from the depths of our hearts,
let us praise God with our mouths.
Just as he has shown his goodness to us,
so he has also fed us.
Just as he has given food to beasts and birds,
so he has also bestowed on us
what we have now consumed

2

Loben wir ihn als seine Knecht
daß sind wir ihm schuldig von Recht
Erkennen, wie er uns hat geliebt
den Menschen aus Genaden gibt,
|daß er von Bein, Fleisch und von Haut
artlich ist zusammen gebaut
daß er des Tages Licht anschaut

Let us praise him as his servants
Since we are rightly obliged
To recognise how he has loved us,
From his mercy he grants to man
That from bone, flesh and skin
He is cunningly constructed
So that he sees the light of day

3

Alsbald der Mensch sein Leben hat
sein Küche vor ihm staht.
In dem Leib der Mutter sein
Ist er zugerichtet fein,
Ob es ist ein kleines Kind
Mangel es doch nirgends find‘t
Bald es an die Welte herkömmt

As soon as man has his life
His food is ready for him,
In his mother's body
He is treated well.
Although he is a small child
He lacks nothing
As soon as he comes to the world.

4

Gott hat die Erde zugericht',
Läßts an Nahrung mangeln nicht;
Berg und Tal, die macht er naß,
Daß dem Vieh auch wächst sein Gras;
Aus der Erden Wein und Brot
Schaffet Gott und gibts uns satt,
Daß der Mensch sein Leben hat.

God has set up the earth in such a way,
that he will not allow food to be lacking;
mountain and valley he makes moist
so that grass may also grow for the cattle.
From the earth wine and bread
God creates and gives us enough
so that people may have their life.

5

Das Wasser muss geben Fisch
die läßt Gott tragen zu Tisch,
Eier von Vögelein gelegt
werden Junge daraus geheckt
Müssen der Menschen Speise sein,
Hirschen, Schafe,Rinder und Schwein
schaffet Gott und gibts allein

Water has to produce fish
that God causes to be brought to the table,
Eggs are laid by birds
From which their young are produced
to be food for men.
Deer, sheep , cattle and pig
are created and given by no one but God

6

Wir danken sehr und bitten ihn,
Daß er uns geb des Geistes Sinn,
Daß wir solches recht verstehn,
Stets in sein' Geboten gehn,
Seinen Namen machen groß
In Christo ohn Unterlaß:
So sing'n wir recht das Gratias.

We give great thanks and pray to him
that he may give us the capability of mind
so that we may understand this rightly,
always walk in his commandments,
make great his name
without ceasing in Christ:
then justly we sing "Gratias!"

--

English Translation by Francis Browne (August 2011)
Contributed by Francis Browne (August 2011)

Cantata BWV 187: Complete Recordings | Recordings of Individual Movements | Discussions
German Text | Translations: Catalan-1 | Dutch-4 | English-1 | English-3 | English-6 | English-10 | French-4 | French-6 | Hebrew-1 | Indonesian | Italian-2 | Russian-1 | Spanish-3