BWV 79 Gott der Herr ist Sonn und Schild

Reformation Sunday.

Poet unknown.

1. Ps. 84:12; 3. Martin Rinckart, verse 1 of the hymn, 1636 (Fischer-Tümpel, I, #526). 6. Ludwig Helmbold, last verse of "Nun lasst uns Gott, dem Herren," 1575 (Wackernagel, IV, #932).

31 October 1725, Leipzig; revised after 1728.

BG 18; NBA I/31.

1. Chorus [Dictum] (S, A, T, B)
God the Lord is sun and shield. The Lord gives blessing and honor, he will no worthy thing withhold from the righteous.


2. Aria (A)

God is our true sun and shield!

    We thus tell abroad his goodness
    With our spirits ever thankful,
    For he loves his little band.
    And he shall still further guard us
    Though our foes their arrows sharpen,
    And the hound of hell should howl.

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

Now thank ye all our God
With heart and tongue and labor,
Who mighty things hath done
For us in ev'ry quarter
Who since our mother's womb
And our first toddling steps
Us countless benefit
Until this day hath brought.

4. Recit. (B)

Thank God we know it,
The proper path to blessedness,
For Jesus, thou hast to us through thy word revealed it,
Wherefore thy name in every age is honored.
But since so many still
Until this day
An alien yoke
For blindness' sake must carry,
Ah, such compassion give
E'en to them graciously,
That they the proper path acknowledge
And call thee their one intercessor.

5. Aria (S, B)

God, O God, forsake thy people
Nevermore!
Let thy word o'er us shine brightly;
Even though
Against us our foes are storming,
Yet shall we with mouth extol thee.

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

Preserve us in the true path,
Grant everlasting freedom
To raise thy name in glory
Through our Christ Jesus. Amen.


© Copyright Z. Philip Ambrose


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