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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 1 
Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern 

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)



1. CORO
Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern
     How lovely shines the morning star
voll Gnad und Wahrheit von dem Herrn,
     full of grace and truth from the Lord,
die süße Wurzel Jesse!
     the sweet root of Jesse!
Du Sohn Davids aus Jakobs Stamm,
     You, son of David from Jacob’s stem,
mein König und mein Bräutigam,
     my king and my bridegroom,
hast mir mein Herz besessen,
     have possessed of me my heart,
lieblich,
     dearly,
freundlich,
     kindly,
schön und herrlich, groß und ehrlich, reich von Gaben,
     lovely and glorious, great and sincere, rich in gifts,
hoch und sehr prächtig erhaben.
     highly and in great splendor exalted.
 
2. RECITATIVO TENORE
Du wahrer Gottes und Marien Sohn,
     You true son of God and Mary,
du König derer Auserwählten,
     you king of the chosen ones,
wie süß ist uns dies Lebenswort,
     how sweet for us is this word of life,
nach dem die ersten Väter schon
     upon which the original forefathers once
so Jahr' als Tage zählten,
     so counted for days upon years,
das Gabriel mit Freuden dort in Bethlehem verheißen!
     which Gabriel announced with joy, there in Bethlehem!
O Süßigkeit,
     O sweetness,
o Himmelsbrot,
     O bread of Heaven,
das weder Grab, Gefahr, noch Tod
     which neither grave, peril nor death
aus unsern Herzen reißen.
     can tear from our hearts.
 
3. ARIA SOPRANO

Erfüllet, ihr himmlischen göttlichen Flammen,
     Pervade, you heavenly, divine flames,
die nach euch verlangende gläubige Brust!
     this believing breast yearning for you!
Die Seelen empfinden die kräftigsten Triebe
     Souls sense the lustiest desires
der brünstigsten Liebe
     of most ardent love
und schmecken auf Erden die himmlische Lust.
     and taste upon earth of heavenly passion.
 
4. RECITATIVO BASSO
Ein irdscher Glanz, ein leiblich Licht
     A fleshly radiance, a bodily glow,
rührt meine Seele nicht;
     does not stir my soul;
ein Freudenschein ist mir von Gott entstanden,
     a beam of joy has appeared to me from God,
denn ein vollkommnes Gut,
     for an absolute good,
des Heilands Leib und Blut,
     the Savior's body and blood,
ist zur Erquickung da.
     is here for my refreshment.
So muß uns ja der überreiche Segen,
     So must, indeed, this blessing extended to us,
der uns von Ewigkeit bestimmt
     which is ordained for us from eternity
und unser Glaube zu sich nimmt,
     and ingested by our faith,
zum Dank und Preis bewegen.
      procure thanks and praise.
 
5. ARIA TENORE
Unser Mund und Ton der Saiten
     Our mouths and tones of strings
sollen dir für und für
     shall unto you, forever and ever,
Dank und Opfer zubereiten.
     render thanks and offering.
Herz und Sinnen sind erhoben,
     Hearts and minds are lifted up,
lebenslang
     lifelong
mit Gesang,
     in song,
großer König, dich zu loben.
     great King, in praise of you.
 
6. CORALE
Wie bin ich doch so herzlich froh,
     How earnestly glad I am indeed
daß mein Schatz ist das A und O,
     that my treasure is the Alpha and Omega,
der Anfang und das Ende;
     the beginning and the end;
Er wird mich doch zu seinem Preis
aufnehmen in das Paradeis,

     He will, indeed, as his prize, 
     accept me into paradise.
des klopf ich in die Hände.
     to this I clap my hands.
Amen!
     Amen!
Amen!
     Amen!
Komm, du schöne Freudenkrone, bleib nicht lange,
     Come you lovely crown of joy, do not tarry,
deiner wart ich mit Verlangen.
      I await you with longing.


_______________________________________________________
COMPOSED: March 25, 1725 (Leipzig) for the Annunciation
LIBRETTIST: unknown; based on Philipp Nicolai, Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern (1599)
TRANSLATION: Tobin Schmuck, 2013 © Bach Vespers at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, NYC
Use by permission only, please. office@bachvespersnyc.org


Bach Vespers at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church