BWV 145 Ich lebe, mein Herze, zu deinem Ergötzen
Auf, mein Herz, des Herren Tag
So du mit deinem Munde bekennest Jesum

Third Day of Easter (revised version: Easter Day).

Christian Friedrich Henrici (Picander), Ernst-Schertzhaffte und Satyrische Gedichte, Teil III (Leipzig, 1732); Facs: Neumann T, p. 341.

A. added later for a performance on Easter Day; Caspar Neumann, verse 1 of the hymn, ca. 1700, to the melody of Johann Crüger's "Jesus, meine Zuversicht"; B. added later from the cantata of the same name by Georg Philipp Telemann for a performance on Easter Day; Rom. 10:9; 5. Nikolaus Herman, verse 14 of "Erschienen ist der herrlich Tag," 1560 (Wackernagel, III, #1374).

Perhaps 19 April 1729, Leipzig; Parody: 1 and 3 ← ? a work from the Cöthen period.

BG 30; NBA I/10.


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

Rise, my heart, the Lord's own day
Hath the night of fear now banished:
Christ, who in the tomb did lie,
Doth in death no longer tarry.
Henceforth am I full of hope,
Jesus hath the world redeemed.

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

If thou with thine own mouth dost acknowledge Jesus, that he is the Lord, and dost in thy heart believe this, that he by God from the dead hath been lifted up, thou shalt be blesséd.

1. Aria (T, S) Jesus, Soul

(Jesus, Soul)
I live now, my spirit,           thy
{                                } to {       } purest pleasure,
Thou livest, my Jesus,          my
  My                            thy
{    } life is exalting {       } life to the stars.
  Thy                            my

(Both)
The bond which indicts thee is broken asunder,(1)
And peace hath provided a conscience of quiet
And opened to sinners the heavenly gate.

2. Recit. (T)

Now order, Moses, as thou wilt,
That we the threat'ning law should practise;
For I have my release here now
With Jesus' blood and wounding signed in writing.
And it holds force,
I am redeemed, I am set free
And live life now with God in peace and unity,
The plaintiff has no case against me,
For God is now arisen.
My heart, remember this!

3. Aria (B)

Mark thou, my heart and forever just this,
When thou all else dost forget,
That thy Savior is alive;
See that this be to thy doctrine
A foundation firm forever,
For on this it shall stand secure.
Mark thou, my heart now, just this.

4. Recit. (S)

My Jesus lives,
From me shall no one take this,
I'll die, then, without grieving.
I am assured
And am of this most certain
That me the darkness of the grave
To heaven's majesty shall raise.
My Jesus lives,
I have in this enough;
My heart and mind
Would this day yet to heaven tend,
To see the face of my redeemer.

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

Thus we are also rightly glad,
Singing our Hallelujah fair
And praising thee, Lord Jesus Christ;
To comfort us thou art aris'n.
Hallelujah!


1. Cf. Col. 2:14.


© Copyright  Z. Philip Ambrose


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