Johann Sebastian Bach

back

BWV 38
Title Out of the deep call I to Thee
Composed 29th October 1724, Leipzig
Scoring

Choir for 4 voices
Soprano solo
Alto solo
Tenor solo
Bass solo

Trumpet I + II + III + IV
Oboe I + II
Violin I + II
Viola
Basso continuo

Movements Choir: Out of the deep call I to Thee
Recitative (Alto): In Jesus' mercy will alone
Aria (Tenor): I hear amidst my very suff'ring
Recitative a battuta (Soprano): Ah! That my faith is still so frail
Terzett (Soprano, Alto, Bass): When my despair as though with fetters
Chorale: Though with us many sins abound
Category Spiritual Cantata
Event Twentyfirst Sunday after Trinity
Author of text Martin Luther 1524
Text
Choir:
Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass
Trumpet I + II + III + IV
Oboe I + II
Violin I + II
Viola
Basso continuo

(Cantus firmus in Soprano)

Recitative:
Alto solo
Basso continuo






Aria:
Tenor solo
Oboe I + II
Basso continuo




Recitative a battuta:
Soprano solo
Basso continuo










Terzett:
Soprano solo, Alto solo, Bass solo
Basso continuo





Chorale:
Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass
Trumpet I + II + III + IV
Oboe I + II
Violin I + II
Viola
Basso continuo


Out of the deep call I to Thee
Lord God, hear thou my calling;
Thy gracious ear bend low to me
And open to my crying!
For if thou wilt observance make
Of sin and deed unjustly done,
Who can, Lord, stand before thee?

In Jesus' mercy will alone
Our comfort be and our forgiveness rest,
Because through Satan's craft and guile
Is mankind's whole existence
'Fore God a sinful outrage found.
What could then now
Bring peace and joy of mind to us in our petitions
If Jesus' Spirit's word did not new wonders do?

I hear amidst my very suff'ring
This comfort which my Jesus speaks.
Thus, O most anguished heart and spirit,
Put trust in this thy God's dear kindness,
His word shall stand and never fail,
His comfort never thee abandon!

Ah!
That my faith is still so frail,
And that all my reliance
On soggy ground I must establish!
How often must I have new portents
My heart to soften!
What? Dost thou know thy helper not,
Who speaks but one consoling word,
And then appears,
Before thy weakness doth perceive,
Salvation's hour.
Just trust in his almighty hand and in his mouth so truthful.

When my despair as though with fetters
One sorrow to the next doth bind,
Yet shall no less my Savior free me,
And all shall sudden from me fall.
How soon appears the hopeful morning
Upon the night of woe and sorrow!

Though with us many sins abound,
With God is much more mercy;
His hand's assistance hath no end,
However great our wrong be.
He is alone our shepherd true,
Who Israel shall yet set free
Of all his sinful doings.

Epistle

Ephesians 6: 10-17

Gospel

John 4: 46-54

Bibletext Psalms 130; 2-3; John 4:47-54
Manuscript Thomasschool, Leipzig; Country and Highschool library, Darmstadt; Estate Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy

Top of page