Ah God, look down from heaven

Translations © by Michael P Rosewall

Cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 - 1750)

View original-language texts alone: Ach Gott, vom Himmel sieh darein

1. Coro. Ach Gott, vom Himmel sieh darein
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ach Gott, vom Himmel sieh darein
Und lass dich's doch erbarmen!
Wie wenig sind der Heilgen dein,
Verlassen sind wir Armen;
Dein Wort man nicht lässt haben wahr,
Der Glaub ist auch verloschen gar
Bei allen Menschenkindern.

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by Martin Luther (1483 - 1546)
1. Chorus. Ah God, look down from heaven
Language: English 
Ah God, look down from heaven
And have compassion on us!
How insignificant are your saints,
We poor are forlorn;
We do not deem your word to be true,
And faith has waned away
From the children of men.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2023 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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Translations of title(s):
"Ach Gott, vom Himmel sieh darein" = "Ah God, look down from heaven"
"Coro. Ach Gott, vom Himmel sieh darein" = "Chorus. Ah God, look down from heaven"



This text was added to the website: 2023-02-18
Line count: 7
Word count: 39

Translation © by Michael P Rosewall
2. Recitativo. Sie lehren eitel falsche List
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Sie lehren eitel falsche List,
Was wider Gott und seine Wahrheit ist;
Und was der eigen Witz erdenket,
- O Jammer! der die Kirche schmerzlich kränket -
Das muss anstatt der Bibel stehn.
Der eine wählet dies, der andre das,
Die törichte Vernunft ist ihr Kompass;
Sie gleichen denen Totengräbern
Die, ob sie zwar von außen schön,
Nur Stank und Moder in sich fassen
Und lauter Unflat sehen lassen.

Text Authorship:

  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author

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by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
2. Recitative. They preach vain, cunning falsehoods
Language: English 
They preach vain, cunning falsehoods,
Which oppose God and His truth;
And anything their own mind conceives,
O woe! - which grievously harms the church –
That must be preferred instead of the Bible.
One person chooses this, another that,
Foolish reason is their guide;
They are the like graveyards
That, although they are outwardly beautiful,
Only contain foulness and decay
And are rife with filth.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2023 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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This text was added to the website: 2023-02-18
Line count: 11
Word count: 65

Translation © by Michael P Rosewall
3. Aria. Tilg, o Gott, die Lehren,
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Tilg, o Gott, die Lehren,
So dein Wort verkehren!
    Wehre doch der Ketzerei
    Und allen Rottengeistern;
    Denn sie sprechen ohne Scheu:
    Trotz dem, der uns will meistern!

Text Authorship:

  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author

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by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
3. Aria. Wipe away, O God, the teachings
Language: English 
Wipe away, O God, the teachings
That work to distort your word!
Guard against heresy
And all debased spirits;
For they speak without fear
Against the one who would be our master!

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2023 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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This text was added to the website: 2023-02-18
Line count: 6
Word count: 32

Translation © by Michael P Rosewall
4. Recitativo. Die Armen sind verstört
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Die Armen sind verstört,
Ihr seufzend Ach, ihr ängstlich Klagen
Bei soviel Kreuz und Not,
Wodurch die Feinde fromme Seelen plagen,
Dringt in das Gnadenohr des Allerhöchsten ein.
Darum spricht Gott: Ich muss ihr Helfer sein!
Ich hab ihr Flehn erhört,
Der Hilfe Morgenrot,
Der reinen Wahrheit heller Sonnenschein
Soll sie mit neuer Kraft,
Die Trost und Leben schafft,
Erquicken und erfreun.
Ich will mich ihrer Not erbarmen,
Mein heilsam Wort soll sein die Kraft der Armen.

Text Authorship:

  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author

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by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
4. Recitative. The poor are afflicted
Language: English 
The poor are afflicted;
Their sighing cries, their tormented laments,
Amid so much suffering and anguish
That the Enemy uses to torture souls,
Reaches the merciful ear of the Most High.
To which God says: I must be their defender!
I have heard their prayers;
The dawning of aid,
The bright sunshine of pure truth
Will invest them with new strength,
Giving comfort and life,
Reviving and delighting them.
I will have compassion for their suffering,
My healing word will strengthen the poor.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2023 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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This text was added to the website: 2023-02-18
Line count: 14
Word count: 83

Translation © by Michael P Rosewall
5. Aria. Durchs Feuer wird das Silber rein
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Durchs Feuer wird das Silber rein,
Durchs Kreuz das Wort bewährt erfunden.
    Drum soll ein Christ zu allen Stunden
    Im Kreuz und Not geduldig sein.

Text Authorship:

  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author

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by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
5. Aria. Through fire, silver is made pure
Language: English 
Through the fire, silver is made pure,
Through the cross, the truth of the word is revealed,
So, a Christian should always
Endure suffering and need with patience.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2023 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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This text was added to the website: 2023-02-18
Line count: 4
Word count: 28

Translation © by Michael P Rosewall
6. Choral. Das wollst du, Gott, bewahren rein
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Das wollst du, Gott, bewahren rein
Für diesem arg'n Geschlechte;
Und lass uns dir befohlen sein,
Dass sichs in uns nicht flechte.
Der gottlos Hauf sich umher findt,
Wo solche lose Leute sind
In deinem Volk erhaben.

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by Martin Luther (1483 - 1546)
6. Chorus. God, preserve your true word
Language: English 
God, preserve your pure [word]
Before this vexing generation;
And let us so obey your commands,
That nothing may turn us away.
A throng of nonbelievers surrounds us,
Where wicked individuals
Are exalted among your people.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2023 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.
    Contact: 

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This text was added to the website: 2023-02-18
Line count: 7
Word count: 36

Translation © by Michael P Rosewall