After the intense emotion of the aria, the chorale returns to the certainty of faith. It connects Peter's failure with the experience of every believer: we fall, but God's grace is greater.
Peter's Denial
Bin ich gleich von dir gewichen
Chorale
•Congregation
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No. 42part_47
Though I have departed from thee,
Yet I return again;
For thy Son hath reconciled us
Through his anguish and mortal pain.
I deny not the guilt;
But thy grace and favor
Is much greater than the sin
Which I constantly find in myself.
German
English
Bin ich gleich von dir gewichen,
Stell ich mich doch wieder ein;
Hat uns doch dein Sohn verglichen
Durch sein Angst und Todespein.
Ich verleugne nicht die Schuld;
Aber deine Gnad und Huld
Ist viel größer als die Sünde,
Die ich stets in mir befinde.
Though I have departed from thee,
Yet I return again;
For thy Son hath reconciled us
Through his anguish and mortal pain.
I deny not the guilt;
But thy grace and favor
Is much greater than the sin
Which I constantly find in myself.
Modern adaptation
Even if I have strayed from you, I come back. Your Son has reconciled us. I do not deny my guilt, but your grace is greater than my sin.