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The following are links to English translations for Bach's cantatas and other works rendered in Bach Vespers at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, NYC. We are pleased for you to peruse these translations for your own enjoyment, but please respect the artistic product they represent and reprint only by permission. Contact office@bachvespersnyc.org for more information.

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Text for Cantata 89
Was soll ich aus dir machen, Ephraim?
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
 

1. ARIA BASSO
Was soll ich aus dir machen, Ephraim?
     What shall I make of you, Ephraim?*
Soll ich dich schützen, Israel?
     Shall I protect you Israel?
Soll ich nicht billig ein Adama aus dir machen
     Shall I not simply make you into an Admah**
und dich wie Zeboim zurichten?
     and punish you like Zeboiim?**
Aber mein Herz ist anders Sinnes,
     But my heart is of another mind,
meine Barmherzigkeit ist zu brünstig. 
     my compassion is too ardent.
 
2. RECITATIVO ALTO
Ja, freilich sollte Gott
     Yes, of course God should
ein Wort zum Urteil sprechen
     speak a word in judgment
und seines Namens Spott
an seinen Feinden rächen.
     and avenge his enemies’ 
     mockery of his name.
Unzählbar ist die Rechnung deiner Sünden,
     Incalculable is the account for your sins, 
und hätte Gott auch gleich Geduld,
     and though God all the same has patience,
verwirft doch dein feindseliges Gemüte
     your hostile nature still rejects
die angebotne Güte
     this rendered goodness
und drückt den Nächsten um die Schuld;
     and places the blame on the neighbor;
so muß die Rache sich entzünden.
     so vengence must be ignited.
 
3. ARIA ALTO
Ein unbarmherziges Gerichte
     An unmerciful sentence
wird über dich gewiß ergehn.
     will certainly be passed against you.
Die Rache fängt bei denen an,
     Vengeance commences with those
die nicht Barmherzigkeit getan,
     who acted without mercy,
und machet sie wie Sodom ganz zunichte.
     and like Sodom, they
     will be totally annihilated.
 
4. RECITATIVO SOPRANO
Wohlan! mein Herze legt Zorn,
Zank und Zwietracht hin;

     Now then! my heart puts away ire,
     bickering and dissent;
es ist bereit, dem Nächsten zu vergeben.
     it is prepared to forgive my neighbor.
Allein, wie schrecket mich
mein sündenvolles Leben,

     However, how my sin-filled life terrifies me
daß ich vor Gott in Schulden bin!
     for I am owing before God!
Doch Jesu Blut
     Yet Jesus’ blood
macht diese Rechnung gut,
     settles this account,
wenn ich zu ihm, als des Gesetzes Ende,
mich gläubig wende.
 
     when I turn to him in faith 
     as the ultimate law.    

5. ARIA SOPRANO
Gerechter Gott, ach, rechnest du?
     Righteous God, ah, are you counting?
So werde ich zum Heil der Seelen
     Then, for the healing of my soul, I will
die Tropfen Blut von Jesu zählen.
     add the drops of blood from Jesus.
Ach! rechne mir die Summe zu!
     Oh! add up the total for me!
Ja, weil sie niemand kann ergründen,
     Yes, though no one can fathom them
bedeckt sie meine Schuld und Sünden.
     they cloak my debts and sins.
 
6. CORALE
Mir mangelt zwar sehr viel,
     I lack, in fact, very much,
doch, was ich haben will,
     yet what I will have
ist alles mir zugute
     has all for my benefit
erlangt mit deinem Blute,
     been acquired by your blood,
damit ich überwinde
     with which I will prevail over
Tod, Teufel, Höll und Sünde.
     death, Devil, Hell and sin.


* the younger son of Joseph; the most powerful tribe of Israel
** one of the five cities to the southeast of the Dead Sea including Sodom and Gomorrah.

____________________________________________________________________
COMPOSED: October 24, 1723 (Leipzig) for the 22nd Sunday after Trinity
LIBRETTIST: unknown; Mvt 1. Hosea 11:8; Mvt 6. Johann Heermann, stanza 7 of Wo soll ich fliehen hin (1630)
TRANSLATION: Tobin Schmuck, 2006 © Bach Vespers at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, NYC
Use only by permission, please.
office@bachvespersnyc.org


Bach Vespers at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church