Warum betrübst du dich, mein Herz
Text and Translation of Chorale

EKG:
Author: Anon
Chorale Melody: Warum betrübst du dich, mein Herz | Composer: Anon

Vocal Works by J.S. Bach:

Ver

Work

Mvt.

Year

Br

RE

KE

Di

BC

Type

11

BWV 47

Mvt. 5

1726

94

333

94

-

F141:5

Chorale

1

BWV 138

Mvt. 1

1723

-

-

-

-

A132:1

Chorus & Recitative

2

BWV 138

Mvt. 2*

1723

-

-

-

-

A132:2

Recitative & Chorale

3

BWV 138

Mvt. 6*

1723

-

-

-

-

A132:6

Chorale

-

BWV 420

-

?

145

331

145

-

F189:1

Chorale

-

BWV 421

-

?

-

332

300

90

F189:2

Chorale

**

BWV 421

Variant

?

299

332

300

-

F189:2

Chorale

Chorale Dir, Jesu, Gottes Sohn, sei Preis (Mvt. 3) from Motet BWV Anh 159 (a variant, different text and transposed of BWV 421)

* Older editions, including most older performing editions have treated the Bach's setting of the 2^nd verse of this chorale as a separate mvt. while the NBA has included it as part of mvt. 2 (bass recitative). This has artificially increased the total number of mvts. in cantata BWV 138 to 7 whereas it should have only 6 mvts. according to the NBA. Among the various recordings of this cantata, Rilling, Harnoncourt, Herreweghe, Leusink and Gardiner list 7 mvts. while only Suzuki and Koopman have 6. The confusion regarding this matter extends even to the most recent edition of the BWV Verzeichnis (1998) which, on the same page refers to the appearance of the chorale in mvts. 1, 3 and 7 at the top of the page, but when displaying in notation the musical incipits of each mvt. it displays only 6, which are the mvts. as given by the NBA.
** Breitkopf 299 is a later variant with changes made by either Johann Philipp Kirnberger or CPE Bach.

German Text (verses in bold print set by Bach)

English Translation

1

Warum betrübst du dich, mein Herz?
Bekümmerst dich und trägest Schmerz
Nur um das zeitliche Gut?
Vertrau du deinem Herren Gott,
Der alle Ding erschaffen hat.

Why are you afflicted, my heart,
why are you full of care and enduring sorrow
only for temporal possessions?
Place your trust in your Lord God
who has created everything.

2

Er kann und will dich lassen nicht,
Er weiß gar wohl, was dir gebricht,
Himmel und Erd ist sein!
Dein Vater und dein Herre Gott,
Der dir beisteht in aller Not.

He cannot and will not abandon you,
he knows well what you lack,
heaven and earth are his!
Your father and your God.
who stands beside you in all distress.

3

Weil du mein Gott und Vater bist,
Dein Kind wirst du verlassen nicht,
Du väterliches Herz!
Ich bin ein armer Erdenkloß,
Auf Erden weiß ich keinen Trost.

Since you are my God and father
you will not abandon your child,
you fatherly heart!
I am a wretched clod of earth,
on earth I know no consolation.

4

Der Reiche bauet auf sein Gut;
Ich will vertrauen auf Gottes Hut.
Ob mich die Welt veracht',
So glaub ich doch mit Zuversicht,
Wer Gott vertraut, dem mangelt's nicht.

The rich man builds on his goods;
I shall trust in God’s care.
Although the world scorns me,
I believe with confidence,
who trusts in God will lack nothing.

5

Helia , wer ernähret dich
Da es so lange regnet nicht
In so schwer theurer Zeit?
Ein Wittwe aus Sidonier Land
Zu welcher du von Gott warst gesandt.

Elias,who feeds you
when there is no rain for so long
in time of such hard famine?
A widow from Sidon
to whom you were sent by God.

6

Da er lag untr dem Wachholdrbaum
Der Engel Gotts vom Himmel kam
Und bracht ihm Speis undTranck
Er gieng gar einen weiten Gang
Bis zu dem Berg Horeb genannt.

As he lay beneath a juniper tree
God’s angel came from heaven
and brought him food and drink.
He went on a long jouirney
to the mountain named Horeb.

7

Des Daniels Gott nicht vergaß
Da er unter den Löwen saß
Sein Engel sandt er hin
Er ließ ihm Speise bringen gut
Durch seinen Diener Habacuc.

God did not forget Daniel
as he sat among the lions.
He sent his angel down,
he had good food brought to him
by his servant Habakuk.

8

Joseph in Egyptn verkauffet ward
Vom König Pharao gefangen hart
Umb sein Gottfürchtigkeit
Gott macht ihn zu einn grossen Herrn
Daß er kont Vatr und Brüdr ernehrn.

Joseph was sold into Egypt,
imprisoned by Pharaoh the king
For his reverence for God
God made him a grerat lord
so that he could feed his father ad brothers.

9

Es ließ auch nicht der treue Gott
Die drey Männr im Feur-Ofen roth
Seinn Engel sandt er hin
Bewahrt sie für des Feuers Glut
Und halff ihnen aus aller Noth.

The faithful God also did not forsake
the three men in the burning fiery furnace,
he sent down his angel,
protected them from the fire’s heat
and helped them in all distress.

10

Ach Gott, du bist so reich noch heut';
Ob je du warst von Ewigkeit,
Mein Trauen steht zu dir;
Sei du nur meiner Seele Hort,
So hab' ich Gnüge hier und dort.

Ah God, you are as rich today
as you were from eternity,
my trust stands by you;
be the only refuge of my soul,
then I have enough here and hereafter.

11

Zeitlicher Ehr, ich gern entbehr',
Des Ewigen mich nur gewähr,
Das du erworben hast
Durch deinen herben, bittern Tod;
Das bitt ich dich, mein Herr und Gott.

Temporal glory I happily do without,
only grant that I may share the eternal glory
that you have gained
by your harsh, bitter death;
for this I ask you, my Lord and God.

12

Alles was ist auf dieser Welt,
Es sei Gold, Silber oder Geld,
Reichtum und zeitlich Gut,
Das währt nur eine kleine Zeit
Und hilft doch nichts zur Seligkeit.

Everything that in this world,
whether it is gold, silver or money,
wealth or temporal possessions,
lasts only a short time
and is of no help for blessedness.

13

Ich danke dir, Herr Jesu Christ,
Dass mir das Kund geworden ist
Durch dein wahrhaftig's Wort;
Verleih mir auch Beständigkeit
Zu meiner Seelen Seligkeit!

I thank you , Lord Jesus Christ,
for what has been revealed to me
through your truthful word;
bestow constancy also on me
for the blessedness of my soul!

14

Lob, Ehr und Preis sei dir gebracht
Für alles wie du mich bedacht.
In Demut bitt' ich dich:
Lass mich von deinem Angesicht
Ewig verstossen werden nicht !

Praise, glory and honour be given to you
for all your consideration for me.
In humility I ask you:
let me never from your face
be driven away.

--

Contributor of Original Text: Dick Wursten (March 2006)
English Translation by Francis Browne (March 2006, December 2007, March 2016)
Contributed by Francis Browne (March 2006, December 2007, March 2016)

Remark:
Alfred Dürr refers to this chorale as having fourteen stanzas. This version has stanza 6 as a variant of what　 Dürr 　refers to as the eleventh 　stanza, which is used as the concluding chorale of BWV 47. We would be most grateful if anyone could supply the missing verses.