Jesus bleibet meine Freude
J. S. Bach
(Jesu, Joy, of Man’s Desiring) BWV 147
J. S. Bach’s well-known choral setting of “Jesus bleibet meine Freude”
is the final movement of his cantata number 147 “Herz und Mund und
Tat und Leben.” The cantata was initially composed by Bach in 1716 for
a service in the Weimar chapel on the Sunday before Christmas. He
revised it in 1723 for the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin
Mary. The opening text exhorts Christians to bear witness to Jesus with
their “heart and mind, deed and life.”
Wohl mir, daß ich Jesum habe,
o wie feste halt' ich ihn,
daß er mir mein Herze labe,
wenn ich krank und traurig bin.
Jesum hab' ich, der mich liebet
und sich mir zu eigen giebet,
ach drum laß' ich Jesum nicht,
wenn mir gleich mein Herze bricht. Well for me that I have Jesus,
O how tightly I hold him
that he might refresh my heart,
when I'm sick and sad.
Jesus I have, who loves me
and gives himself to me,
ah, therefore I will not leave Jesus,
Even if I feel my heart is breaking.
Jesus bleibet meine Freude,
meines Herzens Trost und Saft,
Jesus wehret allem Leide,
er ist meines Lebens Kraft,
meiner Augen Lust und Sonne,
meiner Seele Schatz und Wonne;
darum laß' ich Jesum nicht
aus dem Herzen und Gesicht. Jesus remains my joy,
my heart's comfort and essence,
Jesus fends off all suffering,
He is my life's strength,
my eye's desire and sun,
my soul's treasure and pleasure;
Therefore I will not leave Jesus
out of heart and face.
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