BWV 186 Ärgre dich, o Seele, nicht
Seventh Sunday after Trinity. Poet unknown; movements 1, 3, 5, 8, 10 based on Salomo Franck, Evangelische Sonn- und Fest-Tages-Andachten (Weimar and Jena, 1717); Cf. Facs. to BWV 186a: Neumann T, p. 291. 6. Paul Speratus, verse 12 of "Es ist das Heil uns kommen her," 1524 (Wackernagel, III, #55); 11. verse 11 of the hymn. 11 July 1723, Leipzig; 1, 3, 5, 8, 10 ← BWV 186a. BG 37; NBA I/18. First Part 1. Chorus (S, A, T, B) Vex thyself, O spirit, not, 2. Recit. (B) The servant form, the need, the wanting 3. Aria (B) If thou art to bring me help,Haste thou not to stand beside me? Now my heart is full of doubt, Thou dost spurn perhaps my weeping; But, O soul, thou shouldst not doubt, Let mere reason not ensnare thee. Thy true helper, Jacob’s light, Canst thou in the Scripture witness. 4. Recit. (T) Ah, that a Christian so Should for his body care! Which is it more? An earthly structure Which must again to earth be changéd, And just a borrowed cloak. He could, indeed, the finest share have chosen, Which would his hope not e’er betray: The soul’s salvation Which in Jesus lies. O blesséd he who him in Scripture sees, How he through all this teaching On all who to him listen, The spirit’s manna sends! Thus, when your sorrow doth your heart both gnaw and eat, Then taste and witness yet, how kindly Jesus is. 5. Aria (T) My Savior now appeareth In all his works of blessing. Since he with strength appears To give weak souls instruction, The weary bodies nurture, This sates both flesh and soul. 6. Chorale (S,A,T,B) Though it should seem he were opposed, Be thou by this not frightened, For where he is at best with thee, His wont is not to show it. His word take thou more certain still, And though thy heart say only “No,” Yet let thyself not shudder. Second Part 7. Recit. (B) 8. Aria (S) God's outstretched arms would clasp the wretched(4)
9. Recit. (A) Now may the world with all its pleasure vanish, 2. Des Satans Angel 'the barb (fishhook) of Satan' is a fishing metaphor appropriate to the Gospel story, the feeding of the four thousand, Mk. 8:1-9. 4. Note the false etymology: Armen ... umarmen. 5. I.e., both here in this world and there in the Biblical world. © Copyright Z. Philip Ambrose |