Overview
Johann Sebastian Bach composed the church cantata Warum betrübst du dich, mein Herz, BWV 138, in Leipzig for the 15th Sunday after Trinity and first performed it on 5 September 1723. The text by an unknown author includes three stanzas from the hymn of the same name. Its text and melody were formerly attributed to Hans Sachs, but were written by an unknown hymn writer. The cantata has seven movements and is scored for SATB soloists and choir, two oboes d'amore, two violins, viola and basso continuo. The cantata has features of a chorale cantata although it was written a year before Bach's annual cycle of chorale cantatas. Bach used an aria as the base of the Gratias of his Missa in G major.
Libretto
Warum betrübst du dich, mein Herz?
Bekümmerst dich und trägest Schmerz
Nur um das zeitliche Gut?
Ach, ich bin arm,
Mich drücken schwere Sorgen.
Vom Abend bis zum Morgen
Währt meine liebe Not.
Dass Gott erbarm!
Wer wird mich noch erlösen
Vom Leibe dieser bösen
Und argen Welt?
Wie elend ist's um mich bestellt!
Ach! wär ich doch nur tot!
Vertrau du deinem Herren Gott,
Der alle Ding erschaffen hat.