2. O du von Gott erhöhte Kreatur

German text	English translation
O du von Gott erhöhte Kreatur,	Oh you creature elevated by God,
Begreife nicht, nein, nein, bewundre nur:	Do not [try to] comprehend; no, no, just marvel:
Gott will durch Fleisch des Fleisches Heil erwerben.	God will purchase the salvation of [sinners’] flesh by [sacrificing Christ’s] flesh—
Wie gross ist doch der Schöpfer aller Dinge,	How great indeed is [God] the creator of all things,
Und wie bist du verachtet und geringe,	And how despised and lowly are you!—
Um dich dadurch zu retten vom Verderben.	So as thereby to rescue you from [eternal] ruin.
	transl. Daniel R. Melamed and Michael Marissen

About the text

Author: Anonymous
“The German translation by Martin Luther (1524) of the old church hymn A solis ortus cardine forms the textual foundation of this chorale cantata” (Dürr 2005, 112)
Text references: second verse of Martin Luther’s 1524 A solis ortus cardine (verbatim)
Scripture readings for the day: Titus 3:4–3:7; Luke 2:15–2:20

Full score: Neue Bach-Ausgabe I/3.1, p. 64
Background: Alfred Dürr, Cantatas of J. S. Bach (Oxford University Press, 2005), p. 110
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