Ah, dear Christians, be of good cheer

Translations © by Michael P Rosewall

Cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 - 1750)

View original-language texts alone: Ach, lieben Christen, seid getrost

1. Coro. Ach, lieben Christen, seid getrost
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Ach lieben Christen, seid getrost;
Wie thut ihr so verzagen,
Weil uns der Herr heimsuchen thut?
Lasst uns von Herzen sagen:
Die Straf' wir wohl verdienet ha'n
Solch' muss bekennen Jedermann;
Niemand darf sich ausschliessen.

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by Johannes Gigas (1514 - 1581)
1. Chorus. Ah, dear Christians, be of good cheer
Language: English 
Ah, dear Christians, be of good cheer;
How can you despair so,
If the Lord seeks for us?
From our hearts, let us say:
The penalty that we have truly earned
Must be confessed by each and all;
None may be excluded.

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: 2023-03-07
Line count: 7
Word count: 42

Translation © by Michael P Rosewall
2. Aria. Wo wird in diesem Jammertale
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Wo wird in diesem Jammertale
Vor meinen Geist die Zuflucht sein?
    Allein zu Jesu Vaterhänden
    Will ich mich in der Schwachheit wenden;
    Sonst weiß ich weder aus noch ein.

Text Authorship:

  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author

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by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
2. Aria. Where in this valley of misery
Language: English 
Where, in this valley of misery, 
Can I find refuge for my spirit?
Only to the paternal hands of Jesus
Can I turn in my weakness;
Otherwise, I don’t know if I’m coming or going.

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: 2023-03-07
Line count: 5
Word count: 35

Translation © by Michael P Rosewall
3. Recitativo. O Sünder, trage mit Geduld
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
O Sünder, trage mit Geduld,
Was du durch deine Schuld
Dir selber zugezogen!
Das Unrecht säufst du ja
Wie Wasser in dich ein,
Und diese Sündenwassersucht
Ist zum Verderben da
Und wird dir tödlich sein.
Der Hochmut aß vordem von der verbotnen Frucht,
Gott gleich zu werden;
Wie oft erhebst du dich mit schwülstigen Gebärden,
Dass du erniedrigt werden musst.
Wohlan, bereite deine Brust,
Dass sie den Tod und Grab nicht scheut,
So kämmst du durch ein selig Sterben
Aus diesem sündlichen Verderben
Zur Unschuld und zur Herrlichkeit.

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  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author

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by Anonymous / Unidentified Author
3. Recitative. O sinners, bear with patience
Language: English 
O sinners, bear with patience
What you, through your own doing,
Have brought upon yourselves!
You guzzle falsehood
As if it were water;
And this bloat of sinful brew
Leads to your ruin
And will be fatal to you.
In days of old, prideful ones ate of the forbidden fruit,
In order to become like God;
How often you extol yourself with pompous gesture,
Saying that you must be humbled.
Well then! Prepare your heart,
That it not shy away from death or the grave,
Thus might you pass through a blessed death,
Coming out of this sinful damnation
To innocence and to glory.

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: 2023-03-07
Line count: 17
Word count: 104

Translation © by Michael P Rosewall
4. Choral. Kein Frucht das Weizenkörnlein bringt
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Kein Frucht das Weizenkörnlein bringt,
Es fall denn in die Erden;
So muss auch unser irdscher Leib
Zu Staub und Aschen werden,
Eh er kömmt zu der Herrlichkeit,
Die du, Herr Christ, uns hast bereit'
Durch deinen Gang zum Vater.

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by Johannes Gigas (1514 - 1581)
4. Chorus. A grain of wheat bears no fruit
Language: English 
A grain of wheat bears no fruit,
Unless it falls into the earth;
So also must our worldly body
Become dust and ashes,
That it might come to glory,
Which you, Lord Christ, have prepared for us,
Through your journey to the Father.

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: 2023-03-07
Line count: 7
Word count: 43

Translation © by Michael P Rosewall
5. Aria. Du machst, o Tod, mir nun nicht ferner bange
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Du machst, o Tod, mir nun nicht ferner bange,
Wenn ich durch dich die Freiheit nur erlange,
Es muss ja so einmal gestorben sein.
    Mit Simeon will ich in Friede fahren,
    Mein Heiland will mich in der Gruft bewahren
    Und ruft mich einst zu sich verklärt und rein.

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  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author

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5. Aria. You, O Death, no longer frighten me
Language: English 
You, O Death, no longer frighten me,
Because, through you, I only gain my freedom,
One must, indeed, one day die.
With Simeon I will travel into peace,
My Savior will guard me in the tomb
And will call me to Himself, transfigured and pure.

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: 2023-03-07
Line count: 6
Word count: 45

Translation © by Michael P Rosewall
6. Recitativo. Indes bedenke deine Seele
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Indes bedenke deine Seele
Und stelle sie dem Heiland dar;
Gib deinen Leib und deine Glieder
Gott, der sie dir gegeben, wieder.
Er sorgt und wacht,
Und so wird seiner Liebe Macht
Im Tod und Leben offenbar.

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  • by Anonymous / Unidentified Author

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6. Recitative. In the meantime, consider your soul
Language: English 
In the meantime, consider your soul
And present it to the Savior;
Offer your body and your limbs
Once again to God, who gave them to you.
He tends and keeps watch,
And thus, the power of His love
Is made manifest in death and in life.

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: 2023-03-07
Line count: 7
Word count: 47

Translation © by Michael P Rosewall
7. Choral. Wir wachen oder schlafen ein
 (Sung text)
Language: German (Deutsch) 
Wir wachen oder schlafen ein,
So sind wir doch des Herren;
Auf Christum wir getaufet sein,
Der kann dem Satan wehren.
Durch Adam auf uns kömmt der Tod,
Christus hilft uns aus aller Not.
Drum loben wir den Herren.

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by Johannes Gigas (1514 - 1581)
7. Chorus. Whether we wake or fall asleep
Language: English 
Whether we wake or fall asleep,
We truly are the Lord’s;
We are baptized into Christ,
Who will guard against Satan.
Through Adam, death comes to us,
Christ will give aid for all our afflictions.
Thus, we praise the Lord.

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: 2023-03-07
Line count: 7
Word count: 40

Translation © by Michael P Rosewall