Johann Sebastian Bach
| BWV | 9 |
| Title | Now is to us salvation come |
| Composed | 1731 or 1735, Leipzig |
| Scoring | Choir
for 4 voices |
| Movements | 1. Choir:
Now is to us salvation come 2. Recitative (Tenor): God gave to us a law 3. Aria (Tenor): We were ere then too deeply fallen 4. Recitative (Bass): But somehow was the law to have fulfillment 5. Duetto (Soprano, Alto): Lord, thou look'st past our good labors 6. Recitative (Bass): When we our sin within the law acknowledge 7. Chorale: Though it should seem he were opposed |
| Category | Spiritual Cantata |
| Event | Sixth Sunday after Trinity |
| Author of text | Paul Speratus 1523 |
| Text 1. Choir: Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass Travers flute Oboe d`amore Violin I + II Viola Basso continuo (Cantus firmus in Soprano) |
Now is to us salvation come By grace and purest favor. Our works, they help us not at all, They offer no protection. But faith shall Jesus Christ behold, Who hath enough done for us all He is our intercessor. |
| 2. Recitative: Bass solo Basso continuo |
God gave to us a law, but we were far too weak That we could ever hope to keep it. We followed but the call of sin, No man could be called godly; The soul remained to flesh adherent And ventured not to stand against it. We were within the law to walk And there as if within a mirror see How yet our nature was undisciplined; And just the same we clung to it. Of his own strength none had the power His sinful rudeness to abandon, E'en though he all his strength might strive to gather. |
| 3. Aria: Tenor solo Violine Basso continuo |
We were ere then too deeply fallen, The chasm sucked us fully down, The deep then threatened us with death, And even still in such distress There was no hand to lend us help. |
| 4. Recitative: Bass solo Basso continuo |
But somehow was the law to have fulfillment; And for this came to earth salvation, The Highest's Son hath it himself fulfilled And his own Father's wrath made still. Through his own guiltless dying He let us win salvation. Who now in him doth trust And on his passion build, He walketh not in peril. And heaven is for him appointed Who with true faith himself shall bring And firmly Jesus' arms embrace. |
| 5. Duetto: Soprano solo, Alto solo Travers flute Oboe d`amore Basso continuo |
Lord, thou look'st past our good labors To the heart's believing power, Nought but faith dost thou accept. Nought but faith shall justify, Ev'ry labor seems too slight E'er to bring us any help. |
| 6. Recitative: Bass solo Basso continuo |
When we our sin within the law acknowledge, Our conscience is most sorely stricken; Yet can we reckon to our comfort That we within the Gospel's word Shall soon again Be glad and joyful: This gives to our belief new power. We therefore wait the day Which God's own graciousness To us hath firmly pledged, E'en though, in truth, with purpose wise, The hour is not told us. But still we wait with full assurance, He knoweth when our time is come And worketh no deceit On us; we may depend upon him, And him alone be trustin. |
| 7. Chorale: Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass Travers flute Oboe d`amore Violin I + II Viola Basso continuo |
Though it should seem he were opposed, |
| Epistle | Romans 6: 3-11 |
| Gospel | Matthew 5: 20-26 |
| YouTube | Video 1; Ton Koopman, 1. Choir; 2. Recitative; 3. Aria; 4. Rezitative Video 2; Ton Koopman, 5. Duetot; 6. Recitative; 7. Chorale |
| Manuscript | Library of Congress, Washington; Austrian National library, Vienna; Estate W.F. Bach; Music History Museum, Cologne; Thomasschool, Leipzig; Pierpont Library, New York; Bachhouse, Eisenach; Heimatmuseum, Köthen; Universitäty library, Wasrzawa |