Bach composed the cantata, a solo cantata for a soprano, in 1726 in Leipzig for the 23rd Sunday after Trinity. The prescribed readings for the Sunday were from the Epistle to the Philippians, "our conversation is in heaven" (Philippians 3:17–21), and from the Gospel of Matthew, the question about paying taxes, answered by "Render unto Caesar..." (Matthew 22:15–22). The unknown poet takes from the gospel the idea that the world is false and that man should concentrate on God. He refers to the murder of Abner by Joab, described in 2 Samuel 3:27, as an example for the world's falseness. The closing chorale is the first verse of Adam Reusner's "In dich hab ich gehoffet, Herr" (1533). The beginning line is the last idea of the "Te Deum". Bach used verse 4 of the chorale, "Mir hat die Welt trüglich gericht't", in his St Matthew Passion.

Original Name Falsche Welt, dir trau ich nicht
Date of composition 1726 in Leipzig, Germany
Premiered 1726, November 24th in Leipzig, Germany
First published 1863 (BGA)
Dedicated to 23rd Sunday after Trinity
Type Sacred Cantata
Tonality F Major
Catalogue BWV 52
Spoken language German
Instruments Voice
Chorus/Choir
Orchestra
Links
Autotranslations beta Jean-Sébastien Bach: False world, I do not trust you! en fa majeur, BWV 52
Johann Sebastian Bach: False world, I do not trust you! in fa maggiore, BWV 52
Johann Sebastian Bach: False world, I do not trust you! F-dur, BWV 52