An atmosphere of serene rest descends. The text makes beautiful connections: the evening of the Fall (Adam) is restored by the evening of the burial. Noah's dove symbolizes the new peace.
The Burial
Am Abend, da es kühle war
Aria
•Bass
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No. 64part_75
At evening, when it was cool,
Adam's fall was made manifest;
At evening the Savior puts an end to it.
At evening the dove returned
And bore an olive leaf in its mouth.
O beautiful time! O evening hour!
The covenant of peace is now made with God,
For Jesus has fulfilled his cross.
His body comes to rest.
Ah, dear soul, ask thou,
Go, let the dead Jesus be given to thee,
O wholesome, o precious memorial!
German
English
Am Abend, da es kühle war,
ward Adams Fallen offenbar;
Am Abend drücket ihn der Heiland nieder.
Am Abend kam die Taube wieder
und trug ein Ölblatt in dem Munde.
O schöne Zeit! O Abendstunde!
Der Friedensschluss ist nun mit Gott gemacht,
Denn Jesus hat sein Kreuz vollbracht.
Sein Leichnam kommt zur Ruh.
Ach, liebe Seele, bitte du,
Geh, lasse dir den toten Jesum schenken,
O heilsames, o köstlichs Angedenken!
At evening, when it was cool,
Adam's fall was made manifest;
At evening the Savior puts an end to it.
At evening the dove returned
And bore an olive leaf in its mouth.
O beautiful time! O evening hour!
The covenant of peace is now made with God,
For Jesus has fulfilled his cross.
His body comes to rest.
Ah, dear soul, ask thou,
Go, let the dead Jesus be given to thee,
O wholesome, o precious memorial!
Modern adaptation
In the evening Adam fell. In the evening Jesus restores it. Like the dove with the olive branch brought peace, this evening brings peace with God. Ask to receive the dead Jesus.