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Bach Cantata Translations

BWV 181 - "Leichtgesinnte Flattergeister"

 

Cantata for Sexagesimae

1. Arie B
Leichtgesinnte Flattergeister
Rauben sich des Wortes Kraft.
Belial mit seinen Kindern
Suchet ohnedem zu hindern,
Daß es keinen Nutzen schafft.

1. Aria B
Light-minded frivolous spirits
rob themselves of the Word's power.
Belial with his offspring
seeks nevertheless to obstruct it,
so that it cannot provide assistance.

2. Rezitativ A
O unglückselger Stand verkehrter Seelen,
So gleichsam an dem Wege sind;
Und wer will doch des Satans List erzählen,
Wenn er das Wort dem Herzen raubt,
Das, am Verstande blind,
Den Schaden nicht versteht noch glaubt?
Es werden Felsenherzen,
So boshaft widerstehn,
Ihr eigen Heil verscherzen
und einst zugrundegehn.
Es wirkt ja Christi letztes Wort,
Daß Felsen selbst zerspringen;
Des Engels Hand bewegt des Grabes Stein,
Ja, Mosis Stab kann dort
Aus einem Berge Wasser bringen.
Willst du, o Herz, noch härter sein?

2. Recitative A
O unfortunate condition of deluded souls,
who are, just as we, on the way;
and who yet can tell of Satan's trickery,
as he steals the Word out of hearts,
which, blind in understanding,
neither perceive nor believe the harm?
They become hearts of stone,
so wickedly contrary,
that they scoff at their own salvation
and eventually are brought down.
Indeed Christ's last word had such force,
that rocks themselves split open;
the angel's hand moved the grave stone,
yes, and Moses' staff can there
bring forth water from a cliff.
Will you, O heart, be yet harder?

3. Arie T
Der schädlichen Dornen unendliche Zahl,
Die Sorgen der Wollust, die Schätze zu mehren,
Die werden das Feuer der höllischen Qual
In Ewigkeit nähren.

3. Aria T
The endless number of harmful thorns,
the worries of the lust to increase treasures,
they will feed the fire of hellish torment
in eternity.

4. Rezitativ S
Von diesen wird die Kraft erstickt,
Der edle Same liegt vergebens,
Wer sich nicht recht im Geiste schickt,
Sein Herz beizeiten
Zum guten Lande zu bereiten,
Daß unser Herz die Süßigkeiten schmecket,
So uns dies Wort entdecket,
Die Kräfte dieses und des künftgen Lebens.

4. Recitative S
By these things virtue is smothered,
the noble seed lies useless,
as he who does not in spirit rightly send
his heart in good time
to the good country in preparation;
so that our hearts may taste the sweetness
that this Word reveals to us,
the virtues of this and the future life.

5. Chor
Laß, Höchster, uns zu allen Zeiten
Des Herzens Trost, dein heilig Wort.
  Du kannst nach deiner Allmachtshand
  Allein ein fruchtbar gutes Land
  In unsern Herzen zubereiten.

5. Chorus
Grant us, Highest, at all times,
our heart's comfort, your holy Word.
  You can, according to your almighty hand,
  alone prepare a fruitful, worthy land
  within our hearts.

©Pamela Dellal


Emmanuel Music is the Ensemble-in-Residence at Emmanuel Church
15 Newbury Street • Boston, MA 02116 • 617.536.3356 • music@emmanuelmusic.org