Epiphany.

Poet unknown.

1. Ahasverus Fritsch, verse 1 of the hymn, 1679 (Fischer-Tümpel, V, #593); 2-5. based loosely on verse 2-5, respectively; 6. verse 6 of the hymn.

6 January 1725, Leipzig.

BG 26; NBA I/5.

1. Chorus [Verse 1] (S, A, T, B)

Dearest Emanuel, Lord(1) of the faithful,
Thou Savior of my soul, come, come now soon!
Thou hast, my highest store, my heart won over;
So much its love doth burn and for thee seethe.
On earth can nothing
Be dearer to me
Than that I my Jesus e'er may hold.

2. Recit. (A)

Now heaven's sweet delight, the chosen people's joy,
Doth fill e'en here on earth my heart and breast,
When I the name of Jesus utter
And recognize his secret manna:
Like as the dew an arid land revives,
Just so my heart
In peril and in pain
To joyfulness doth Jesus pow'r transport.

3. Aria (T)

E'en the cruel cross's journey
And my fare of bitter weeping
Daunt me not.

When the raging tempests bluster,
Jesus sends to me from heaven
Saving light.

4. Recit. (B)

No fiend of hell can e'er devour me,
The crying conscience now is still.
How shall indeed the hostile host surround me?
E'en death itself hath lost its might,
And to my side the vict'ry now inclines,
For Jesus is to me, my Savior, shown.

5. Aria (B)

Leave me, world, for thou dost scorn me,
In my grievous loneliness!

Jesus, now in flesh appearing
And my sacrifice accepting,
Shall be with me all my days.

6. Chorale [Verse 6] (S, A, T, B)

Be gone, then, evermore, ye idle fancies!
Thou, Jesus, thou art mine, and I am thine;
I would depart this world and come before thee;
Thou shalt within my heart and mouth be found.
My whole existence
Shall thee be offered,
Until at last they lay me in the grave.

1. Herzog 'duke' seems inappropriate in its literal sense. Its etymological meaning, 'leader of the army' (cf. Herr and ziehen), is similar to that of its Latin cognate dux. One might prefer to translate with "leader" or "guide," but "Lord" seems to have the proper connotations of rank and function.

© Copyright  Z. Philip Ambrose

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