The Complete Weihnachts-oratorium of JS Bach, Part III:VII-X

7. Recitativo (T)

[Evangelist]

Und sie kamen eilend und funden beide,

Mariam und Joseph, dazu das Kind in der Krippe liegen.

Da sie es aber gesehen hatten,

breiteten sie das Wort aus,

welches zu ihnen von diesem Kind gesaget war.

Und alle, für die es kam, wunderten sich der Rede,

die ihnen die Hirten gesaget hatten.

Maria aber behielt alle diese Worte

und bewegte sie in ihrem Herzen.

~

And they went forth quickly and found there

both Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger.

When they, however, had ceased their looking,

they spread forth the saying

which had been told unto them concerning this child.

And all to whom it came wondered at the story

which had been reported to them by the shepherds.

But Mary kept to herself then all these sayings,

and she pondered them within her heart.

~~~~~

8. Aria (A)

Schließe, mein Herze, dies selige Wunder

Fest in deinem Glauben ein!

Lasse dies Wunder, die göttlichen Werke,

Immer zur Stärke

Deines schwachen Glaubens sein!

~

Keep thou, my heart now, this most blessed wonder

Fast within thy faith alway!

And let this wonder, these godly achievements,

Ever as comfort

Of thy feeble faith abide!

~~~~~

9. Recitativo (A)

Ja, ja, mein Herz soll es bewahren,

Was es an dieser holden Zeit

Zu seiner Seligkeit

Für sicheren Beweis erfahren.

~

Oh yes, my heart shall ever cherish

All it at this most gracious time

To its eternal bliss

With certain signs of proof hath witnessed.

~~~~~

10. Choral (S, A, T, B)

Ich will dich mit Fleiß bewahren,

Ich will dir

Leben hier,

Dir will ich abfahren,

Mit dir will ich endlich schweben

Voller Freud

Ohne Zeit

Dort im andern Leben.

~

I will thee steadfastly cherish,

For thy sake

My life make,

In thee I will perish,

With thee will I one day hover

Full of joy

For alway

There when life is over.

~~~~~

~~~~~

The complete Christmas Oratorio is featured on All for Hymn
beginning at 6:00 PM ET on December 24, 2011
and running every 3 hours.

English Translation © Z. Philip Ambrose, translator, 

Web publication: http://www.uvm.edu/~classics/faculty/bach.

Used by permission.

Special thanks to counterpoint85 over on youtube
for posting the complete work.