BWV 139 Wohl dem, der sich auf seinen Gott
Twenty-third Sunday after Trinity. Poet unknown. 1. Johann Christoph Rube, verse 1 of the hymn, 1692; the cantus firmus in the soprano is the melody of "Mach's mit mir, Gott, nach deiner Güt" (cf. BWV 156/1); 2. based freely on verse 2; 3. based freely on Mt. 22:15-22; 4-5. based freely on verses 3 and 4; 6. verse 5 of the hymn (same melody as in 1). 12 November 1724, Leipzig; again after 1744 (Neumann Hb). BG 28; NBA I/26. 1. Chorus [Verse 1] (S, A, T, B) Blest he who self can to his God
2. Aria (T) God is my friend; what use that raging
Be ever false, what's that to me? Ye scorners are to me no danger. 3. Recit. (A) The Savior sends, indeed, his people
4. Aria (B) Misfortune wraps from all directions
I've learned at last that God alone To men the best of friends must be.(3) 5. Recit. (S) Yea, though I bear my greatest foe within,
6. Chorale (S, A, T, B) I therefore scorn the host of hell!
2. For Bösen 'wicked' in a rather social sense, cf. Latin mali 'the lower classes.' 3. This and the preceding line are verbatim from the hymn. © Copyright Z. Philip Ambrose |