Bach Cantata Translations
BWV 94 - "What do I ask about the world"
Cantata for the Ninth Sunday after Trinity | |
| 1st choir What do I ask about the world? And all her treasures If I am only with you, My Jesus, can delight! I only have you for me For the sake of lust, You, you are my rest: What do I ask for the world! ("What do I ask about the world," verse 1) | 1st Chorale What should I ask of the world and all its treasures when only in You, My Jesus, I can delight! You alone have I placed before me for pleasure: You, you are my rest; what should I ask of the world! |
| 2. Aria B The world is like a smoke and a shadow The soon disappears and passes, Because she only exists for a short time. But when everything falls and breaks, Is Jesus my trust, Where my soul holds. Therefore, what do I ask about the world! | 2. Aria B The world is like smoke and shadows that quickly dissipate and disappear, since they last only a short time. However, when everything falls and breaks, Jesus remains my security, on which my soul relies. Therefore: what should I ask of the world! |
| 3. Chorale and Recitative T The world seeks honor and fame With exalted people. A proud man builds the most magnificent palaces, He is looking for the highest honorary post He dresses well In purple, gold, silver, silk and velvet. His name should be for everyone Sound in every part of the world. His arrogant tower Should penetrate through the air to the clouds, He only seeks high things And do not even think How soon they will glide. Often a shell air blows The proud body suddenly in the tomb, And then all splendor disappears Wormit the poor earthworm Made this great state here in the world. Oh! such vain dandy Is banished from my chest far from me. This, however, what my heart Above others honorable, What gives Christians true glory and rightful honor, And what my spirit, Who vanishes from vanity Instead of loving the splendor and pride, Is Jesus only alone, And this should be eternal. Put me, the world Therefore, before foolish stops: What do I ask for the world! ("What do I ask about the world," verse 3) | 3. Chorus and Recitative T The world seeks honor and glory among highly exalted people. A proud man builds the most opulent palaces, he seeks the highest post of honor, he dresses himself with the best in purple, gold, in silver, silk and velvet. His name will resound before everyone in every part of the world. His tower of arrogance to be through the air to the clouds, he is occupied only with the highest matters and never thinks once how quickly all these pass away. Often a hollow wind blows the proud body at once into the grave, and there all glories disappear, with which the poor earthworm had made a great position in the world. Alas! Search vain toys shall be banished from my breast. This however, that's my heart considered glorious above all else, which Christians rightfully honor and truly praise, and what my spirit, torn away from vanity, loves instead of glory and fame, is Jesus alone, and this shall be forever. Granted, that the world Consider me a fool because of it: what should I ask of the world! |
| 4. Aria A Disgusted world, beguiled world! Also your wealth, good and money Is fraud and false appearance. You may count the vain mammon, I want to choose Jesus before me; Jesus, Jesus should be alone Being wealthy to my soul. Disgusted world, beguiled world! | 4th Aria A Deluded world, deluded world! Even your riches, goods and money are trickery and counterfeit. You may count your vain mammon, I want value my Jesus foremost; Jesus, Jesus shall alone be the riches of my soul. Deluded world, deluded world! |
| 5. Chorale and Recitative B The world is grieving. What must grief be? O folly! This is what makes her hurt: In case she is despised. World, be ashamed! God has loved you so much, That he is his born child Before your sin For the greatest disgrace for your honor, And you do not want to suffer for the sake of Jesus? The sadness of the world is never greater, As if you were her with cunning Seeks in her honor. It's better, I carry Christ's shame, As long as he likes it. It is only a suffering of this time, I know for sure that I am eternal For crowning with praise and honors; Whether the world is me Mocked and mocked, Whether she will scorn me right away, If my Jesus honors me: What do I ask for the world! ("What do I ask about the world," verse 5) | 5. Chorale and Recitative B The world is troubled. What might it be? O foolishness! This causes it pain: In its downfall it will be scorned. World, shame on you! God has loved you so much, that he gave his only-begotten Son for your sin to the greatest discretion for your honor's sake, and you will not suffer for Jesus' sake? The unhappiness of the world is never greater, Than when with deceit its honors are threatened. It is truly better, I bear Christ's shame, as long as it pleases Him. After all, it is just a suffering in the present time, I know with certainty, that in eternity I want to be crowned with praise and honor for it; whether the world mocks and disgusting me, whether it considers me despised, If my Jesus honors me: what should I ask of the world! |
| 6. Aria T. The world can express its pleasure and joy, The dazzling work of vanity, Do not raise high enough. She's rummaging about finding only yellow feces Like a mole in the grounds And lets stand for the sky. | 6. Aria T. The world can not exalt its pleasures and joys, the illusion of contemptible vanities, high enough. It burrows, finding only yellow dung, just like a mole in the ground and for this puts heaven aside. |
| 7. Aria S It's about the blind world, Who does not hold onto his soul, I am disgusted with the earth. I just want to love my Jesus And practice me in repentance, That's how I can become rich and happy. | 7. Aria S He can cling to the blind world who cares nothing for his soul; I am sick of the earth. I only want to love my Jesus and act in repentance and faith, then I can be rich and happy. |
| 8. Chorale What do I ask for the world! In the hui, she has to disappear, Your reputation can certainly Do not tie the pale death. The goods must go on, And all pleasure is lost; If only Jesus stays with me: What do I ask for the world! What do I ask for the world! My Jesus is my life, My darling, my property, I completely surrender My whole kingdom of heaven, And what else I like. So again, let me say What do I ask for the world! ("What do I ask about the world," verses 7 and 8) | 8. Chorale What should I ask of the world! It must be vanish in a whoosh, its reputation can not restrain pale death in the least. The good must depart, and all pleasure decays; if Jesus only stays with me: what should I ask of the world! What should I ask of the world! My Jesus is my life, my treasure, my sanctuary, to whom I have given myself utterly, my entire heavenly kingdom, and what I would rather delight in. Therefore I say again: what should I ask of the world! |
| "What do I ask about the world," Balthasar Kindermann 1664 (verses 1,3,5,7,8 - mov'ts 1,3,5,8, source for the others) | |
© Pamela Dellal | |
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