BWV 158 Der Friede sei mit dir

Third Day of Easter (Easter Tuesday).

Poet unknown; Salomo Franck?

2. Johann Georg Albinus, verse 1 of the hymn, 1649 (Fischer- T�mpel, IV, #312), with interpolated aria; 4. Martin Luther, verse 5 of "Christ lag in Todesbanden," 1524 (Wackernagel, III, #15).

Date uncertain.

BG 32; NBA I/10.

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1. Recit. (B)

May peace now be with thee,
O thou most anxious conscience!
Thine intercessor�s here,
Who hath thy ledger book
And the Law�s dread curse
Now settled and destroyed.(1)
May peace now be with thee,
The prince who rules this world,
Who for thy soul hath lain in wait,
Is through the Lamb�s own blood now conquered and laid low.
My heart, why art thou so downcast,
When thou by God through Christ art loved?
He saith himself to me:
May peace now be with thee!

2. Aria (B) and Chorale (S)

(B)
World, farewell, of thee I'm weary,
Salem's shelter I prefer,

    (S)
    World, farewell, of thee I'm weary,
    I would now to heaven go,

(B)
Where I God in peace and quiet
Ever blessed can behold.

    (S)
    Where will be a peace most tranquil
    And eternal grand repose.

(B)
I'll bide there where I shall be dwelling contented

    (S)
    World, with thee is war and strife,
    Nought but merest vanity;

(B)
And crowned in the glory of heavenly splendor.

    (S)
    But in heaven evermore
    Peace and joy and happiness.

3. Recit. and Arioso (B)

O Lord, now govern all my thoughts,
That I, while in the world
As long as thou dost please to let me here remain,
A child of peace may be,
And let me to thee from all my suff'ring
Like Simeon in peace depart now!(2)
I'll bide there where I shall be dwelling with favor
And crowned in the glory of heavenly splendor.

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

Here is the proper Easter lamb,
Whereof God hath commanded;
It is high on the cross's trunk
In ardent love now roasted.
His blood signeth now our door,
Our faith doth it to death display;
The strangler cannot now touch us.
Alleluia!

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1. Banking metaphors are characteristic of Salomo Franck.

2. An allusion to the "Nunc dimittis" or "Song of Simeon."