Text
Aria: Bass solo
Horn
Violin
I + II
Viola
Bassoon
Basso continuo
Recitative: Tenor solo
Basso continuo
Aria: Soprano solo
Basso continuo
Recitative: Alto solo
Basso continuo
Aria (Duetto): Alto solo, Tenor solo
Basso continuo
Chorale: Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass
Horn
Violin
I + II
Viola
Bassoon
Basso continuo
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Ah! I see now,
As I go to join the marriage,
Bliss and mis'ry.
Spirit's bane and bread of life,
Heaven, hell, and life and death,
Heaven's rays and hellfire's burning
Are together.
Jesus, help me to survive now!
O awesome marriage feast,
To which the king of heaven
To man his summons sends!
Is then the wretched bride,
The nature of mankind, not much too poor and worthless,
That God Almighty's Son to her be wed?
O awesome marriage feast,
How is our flesh come into such great honor,
That God's own Son
Hath it for evermore accepted?
Though heaven is his throne
And earth doth offer to his feet a footstool, (1.)
Yet would he kiss the world,
His bride and most beloved!
The marriage supper is prepared,
The fatted calf is slaughtered.
How glorious is ev'rything made ready!
How happy he whom faith now leadeth hither,
And how accursed is yet he who this feast disdaineth!
Jesus, fountain of all mercy,
Quicken me, thy wretched guest,
For thou hast invited me!
I am faint, weak and sore laden,
Ah, enliven now my spirit,
Ah, how starved I am for thee!
Bread of life, which I have chosen,
Come, unite thyself to me!
My Jesus, let me not
Without a robe approach the marriage,
That on me fall thy judgment not;
With horror have I been a witness
As once the wanton wedding guest,
Without a robe appearing,
Rejected and condemned thou hast!
I know mine own unworthiness:
Ah! Give to me the marriage robe of faith;
Let thine own merits serve as mine adornment!
Give as my wedding garment
Salvation's cloak, the candid silk of chasteness!
Ah! Let thy blood, that noble purple, cover
The ancient cloak of Adam and all its sinful patches,
And I'll be fair and pure
And thee most welcome be,
And I'll right worthily the lamb's high feast be tasting. (2.)
Now in my God am I made glad!
The pow'r of love so much hath stirred him,
That he hath in this time of grace
With simple favor put around me
The raiment of his righteousness. (3.)
I know he'll give, when life is over,
His glory's shining robe
To me in heaven also.
Ah, I have already witnessed
This his awesome majesty.
Soon now shall I be made lovely
In the shining heav'nly robe;
In a golden crown of glory
Shall I stand before God's throne there,
Gazing at that state of joy
Which no end can ever know.
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