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Der Mensch, vom Weibe geboren lebt kurze Zeit und ist voller Unruhe, Er gehet auf wie eine Blume und fällt ab, fleucht wie ein Schatten und bleibet nicht. Ach wie nichtig, ach wie flüchtig ist das Leben, So dem Menschen wird gegeben. Kaum, wenn er zur Welt geboren, Ist er schon zum Tod erkoren. Seiner Tage aller Plage muß man sehen Wie ein schneller Wind vergehen. Kaum, wenn er zur Welt geboren, Ist er schon zum Tod erkoren. Menschenkinder, weil sie Sünder, gehn zu Grunde In der unvermeinten Stunde. Wie die Nelken bald verwelken und verderben, So muß auch der Mensch hinsterben. Kaum, wenn er zur Welt geboren, Ist er schon zum Tod erkoren. Menschenleben, das fleucht eben wie ein Schatten, Den wir an der Seite hatten. Kaum, wenn er zur Welt geboren, Ist er schon zum Tod erkoren.
Note: the first four lines come from the Bible, book of Job.
Text Authorship:
- by Anonymous / Unidentified Author [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Johann Christoph Bach (1642 - 1703), "Der Mensch vom Weibe geboren" [ 2 sopranos, alto, tenor, 2 bass ] [sung text checked 1 time]
Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Michael P Rosewall) , "Man, born of woman", copyright © 2022, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Guy Laffaille [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2021-06-08
Line count: 27
Word count: 139
Man, born of woman, Lives for a short time, and is full of strife, He rises like a flower and withers away, Flees like a shadow and does not persist. Ah, how tenuous, ah, how fleeting Is life, Such has been given to mankind. When hardly born into the world, He has already been selected for death. All of his days, tribulation He must endure, Like straining against a stiff wind. When hardly born into the world, He has already been selected for death. Children of men, because they are sinners, Go to the bottom At that inconceivable hour. As carnations quickly wither And decay, So Man also must die. When hardly born into the world, He has already been selected for death. The life of Man flees away Like a shadow That we have at our side. When hardly born into the world, He has already been selected for death.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2022 by Michael P Rosewall, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist
This text was added to the website: 2022-10-06
Line count: 27
Word count: 151