2. Bewundert, o Menschen, dies grosse Geheimnis

German text	English translation
Bewundert, o Menschen, dies grosse Geheimnis:	Marvel, O people, at this great mystery:
Der höchste Beherrscher erscheinet der Welt.	The supreme ruler appears to the world.
Hier werden die Schätze des Himmels entdecket,	Here the treasures of heaven are revealed,
Hier wird uns ein göttliches Manna bestellt,	Here a divine manna [Jesus] is ordained for us,
O Wunder! die Keuschheit wird gar nicht beflecket.	O miracle! The chastity [of Mary] is completely untainted.
	transl. Michael Marissen and Daniel R. Melamed

About the text

Author: Unknown
“Based exclusively on Martin Luther’s hymn of 1524 and hence on its model, the Latin hymn Veni redemptor gentium” (Dürr 2005, 78).
Text references: second and third verses of Martin Luther’s hymn of 1524 (paraphrased)
Scripture readings for the day: Romans 13:11–13:14; Matthew 21:1–21:9

Full score: Neue Bach-Ausgabe I/1, p. 88
Background: Alfred Dürr, Cantatas of J. S. Bach (Oxford University Press, 2005), p. 77
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