Der doch auf ein’ ernsten Blick
Bitterlichen weinet.
Jesu, blicke mich auch an,
Wenn ich nicht will büßen;
Wenn ich Böses hab getan,
Rühre mein Gewissen!
who yet after a serious glance
wept bitterly.
Jesus, look upon me also,
when I will not repent;
when I have done evil,
stir my conscience!
PART TWO
The chorale that opens the second part is a broad statement of faith by Christ’s followers
and believers. It leads into the crucial episode of the trial before Pontius Pilate, the Roman
Emperor’s Prefect (or Procurator) of the province of Judea. The baying of the crowd is
heard in chromatically unsettled cries, and Pilate’s responses seem lacklustre and unvaried
— almost as though he were unable to understand the crowd’s furious insistence on a
judgement of guilt, and the death sentence..
15. Choral
Christus, der uns selig macht,
Kein Bös’ hat begangen,
Der ward für uns in der Nacht
Als ein Dieb gefangen,
Geführt für gottlose Leut
Und fälschlich verklaget,
Verlacht, verhöhnt und verspeit,
Wie denn die Schrift saget. 15. Chorale
Christ, who makes us blessed,
committed no evil deed,
for us He was taken in the night
like a thief,
led before godless people
and falsely accused,
scorned, shamed, and spat upon,
as the Scripture says.
16. Evangelist
Da führeten sie Jesum von Kaiphas vor das
Richthaus, und es war frühe. Und sie gingen
nicht in das Richthaus, auf daß sie nicht
unrein würden, sondern Ostern essen
möchten. Da ging Pilatus zu ihnen heraus
und sprach: 16. Evangelist
Then they led Jesus to Caiaphas in front
of the judgment hall, and it was early.
And they did not go into the judgment
hall, so that they would not become
unclean for the feast of the Passover.
Pilate came outside to them and said:
Pilatus
Wa