BWV 144 Nimm, was dein ist, und gehe hin

Septuagesima Sunday.

Poet unknown (Picander?); PT (Leipzig, 1724); Facs: Neumann T, p. 426.

1. Mt. 20:14; 3. Samuel Rodigast, verse 1 of the hymn, 1674 (Fischer-Tümpel, IV, #167); 6. Markgraf Allbrecht von Brandenburg, verse 1 of "Was mein Gott will, das g'scheh allzeit," 1574 (Wackernagel, III, #1240ff.).

6 February 1724, Leipzig.

BG 30; NBA I/7.


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

Take what is thine and go away.

2. Aria (A)

Murmur not,
Man of Christ,

    When thy wish is not fulfilled;
    Rather be with that contented
    Which thee thy God hath allotted;
    He knows what thou hast need of.

3. Chorale (S, A, T, B)

What God doth, that is rightly done,
His will is just forever;
Whatever course he sets my life,
I will trust him with calmness.
He is my God,
Who in distress
Knows well how to support me;
So I yield him all power.

4. Recit. (T)

Wherever moderation rules
And ev'rywhere the helm doth tend,
There is mankind content
With that which God ordains.
However, where immoderation doth its judgment speak,
There shall both grief and woe ensue,
The heart shall not
Be satisfied,
And unremembered shall be this:
What God doth, that is rightly done.

5. Aria (S)

Contentedness,
In this life it is a treasure
Which is able to bring pleasure
In the greatest time of stress,
Contentedness.
For it lets itself in all things
Satisfied be in what God brings,
Contentedness.

6. Chorale (S, A, T, B)

What my God will, let be alway,
His will, it is the best will.
To help all those he is prepared
Who in him faith keep steadfast.
He frees from want, this faithful God,
And punisheth with measure.
Who God doth trust, firm on him builds,
Him shall he not abandon.


© Copyright  Z. Philip Ambrose


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