5. Unendlichster, den man doch Vater nennt

German text	English translation
Unendlichster, den man doch Vater nennt,	Eternal, whom yet we call Father,
Wir wollen dann das Herz zum Opfer bringen,	we would bring our hearts as offerings;
Aus unsrer Brust, die ganz vor Andacht brennt,	Out of our breasts, that burn with devotion,
Soll sich der Seufzer Glut zum Himmel schwingen.	The heat of our sighs shall soar to heaven.
	translation © Pamela Dellal, courtesy Emmanuel Music Inc.

About the text

Author: Unknown
“Based on the Cöthen congratulatory cantata BWV 173a” (Dürr 2005, 358)
Text references: fifth movement of the Cöthen congratulatory cantata BWV 173a (paraphrased)
Scripture readings for the day: Acts 10:42–10:8; John 3:16–3:21

Full score: Neue Bach-Ausgabe I/14, p. 24
Background: Alfred Dürr, Cantatas of J. S. Bach (Oxford University Press, 2005), p. 357
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