BWV 13 Meine Seufzer, meine Tränen

Second Sunday after Epiphany.

Georg Christian Lehms, Gottgefälliges Kirchen-Opffer (Darmstadt, 1711); Facs: Neumann T, p. 258.

3. Johann Heermann, verse 2 of "Zion klagt mit Angst und Schmerzen," 1636 (Fischer-Tümpel, I, #361); 6. Paul Fleming, final verse of "In allen meinen Taten," 1642 (Fischer-Tümpel, I, #489).

20 January 1726, Leipzig.

BG 2; NBA I/5.

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1. Aria (T)

Of my sighing, of my crying
No one could the sum reveal.

If each day is filled with sadness

And our sorrow never passeth,

Ah, it means that all our pain

Now the way to death prepareth!

2. Recit. (A)

My dearest Lord hath let
Me long in vain invoke him,
To me in all my weeping
No comfort yet revealing.
The hour even now
Is from afar appearing,
But still I must in vain make my entreaty.

3. Chorale (A)

That God who gave me the promise
Of his helping hand alway
Lets me strive in vain to find him
Now within my sad estate.
Ah! Will he then evermore
Cruel wrath retain for me,
Can and will he to the wretched
Now no longer show his mercy?

4. Recit. (S)

My sorrow ever grows
And robs me of all peace,
My cup of woe is filled
With tears to overflowing,
And my distress will not be dampened
And leaves me full of cold despair.
This night of care and grief
Doth bring my anxious heart oppression,
I sing, thus, only songs of sorrow.
No, spirit, no,
Take only comfort in thy pain:
God can the wormwood's gall
Transform with ease to wine of rapture
And then as well ten thousand joys allow thee.

5. Aria (B)

Moaning and most piteous weeping
Help our sorrow's sickness not;

But whoe'er to heaven looketh

And strives there to find his comfort

Can with ease a light of joy

In his grieving breast discover.

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

Thyself be true, O spirit,
And trust in that one only
Who hath created thee;
Let happen what may happen,
Thy Father there in heaven
Doth counsel in all matters well.

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