Chorale Texts used in Bach's Vocal Works
O Herzensangst, O Bangigkeit un Zagen
Text and Translation of Chorale

Ref. in hymnals/hymn books:
Author: Friedrich Daniel Gerhard Müller von Königsberg (before 1697)
Chorale Melody: O Herzensangst, o Bangigkeit und Zagen (Zahn 1003) | Composer: attributed to J.S. Bach (unknown date)
Theme:

Description:

Hymn, by Friedrich Daniel Gerhard Müller von Königsberg, in 9 4-line stanzas (1700). Melody by J.S. Bach.
Increasingly, J.S. Bach departed from his NLGB directory and pursued sacred sings from other hymnbooks, occasionally writing his own melodies to various published hymn texts.3 These are four melodies in the Clavierbüchlein for Anna Magdalena Bach (1725-1732); hymn “Drum schließ ich mich in deine Hände”, motet BWV 229, “Komm, Jesu, Komm,” (before 1732); “Hilf, Herr Jesu, laß gelingen,” BWV 248/42 (1734-1735) and BWV 344 (Johann Rist, 1642 New Years text); 19 melodies with figured bass in Schemelli-Gesangbuch (1736); two recently discovered chorales, “Denket doch, ihr Menschenkinder,” BWV 1122, and “Welt, tobe, wie du willst,” BC F198 (Zahn 2934); and four other melodies unknown except in J.S. Bach settings of pietist texts: BWV 357, “Jesu, Jesu, du bist mein” (anon. text 1687); BWV 384, “Nicht so traurig, nicht so sehr” (Paul Gerhardt, 1647 text); BWV 400, “O Herzensangst, O Bangigkeit un Zagen” (D. Gerhardt Müller, 1700 text); and BWV 423, “Was betrübst du dich, mein Herz” (Zacharias Hermann, 1690 text).
Source: Chorales: Psalms, Christian Life, Troubles, Thanks, Weddings (William Hoffman, July 28, 2017)

Vocal Works by J.S. Bach:

Chorale O Herzensangst, o Bangigkeit, BWV 400
Ref: Br 173; RE 173; KE 284; Birnstiel 178; AmB 46II p.146; BGA 147; BC F160.1, CST 294

German Text (verses in bold print set by Bach)

English Translation

1. O Herzensangst, o Bangigkeit und Zagen!
Was seh ich hier für eine Leiche tragen!
Wess ist das Grab? Wie ist der Fels zu nennen?
Ich soll ihn kennen.

1. Ah, woe is me! What grief is mine past measure!
Say, where's the grave that houseth my heart's Treasure?
Where doth He lie? O whither have they borne Him?
I fain would find Him.

2. Ach, fliesst, ihr Thränen! fliesst, ach fliesst,o wehe!
Es ist der Herr, mein Liebster, ich vergehe!
Mein traut'ster Schatz, der mir zu gut geboren,
Und mich erkoren.

2. Weep, weep, sad eyes, hot tears in anguish falling!
For 'tis my Lord, my dearest Lord, I'm calling,
My dearest Joy, Who did for bliss create me
And hath redeemed me.

3. Halt still, ihr Träger! wartet doch, halt stille,
Bis ich zu letzen Treu an ihm erfülle,
Und seinen Leichnam, liebreich mich zuletzen,
Genug kann netzen.

3. Sad mourners, stay, nor venture now approach me,
Till to my Lord my homage is paid meetly,
And on His bier my heart's full love is poured,
My Lord

4.

4.

5.

5.

6.

6.

7.

7.

8. Komm her, mein Herr! Komm ruh in meinem Herzen,
So fühl ich weiter keine Noth und Schmerzen,
Schau, wie ich auch in brünstigem Verlangen
Dich zu empfangen.

8. Come, Saviour mine, within my heart now rest Thee
So shall my woes not evermore distress me.
See with what joy and eagerness I press me,
Lord, to embrace Thee.

9.

9.

Source of German Text: Bach Digital (verse 1 only)
Source of German Text & English Translation: Charles Sanford Terry | Source of English Translation: Charles Sanford Terry: The Four-Part Chorals of J.S. Bach (Oxford University Press, 1929), p 314
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (October 2018 - November 2018)