Johann Sebastian Bach composed the church cantata Ach, lieben Christen, seid getrost (Ah, dear Christians, be comforted),[1] BWV 114, in Leipzig for the 17th Sunday after Trinity and first performed it on 1 October 1724.

Bach scored the cantata for four vocal parts, a four-part choir and a Baroque instrumental ensemble of a horn to reinforce the chorale tune, a flauto traverso, oboes, strings and basso continuo.

[2][5] The cantata is based on a song of penitence, "Ach, lieben Christen, seid getrost", in six stanzas by Johannes Gigas (1561),[2][6] sung to the melody of "Wo Gott der Herr nicht bei uns hält".

In movement 3, he deviated from the song text, expanding in connection to the gospel that sin in general is comparable to the dropsy, "diese Sündenwassersucht ist zum Verderben da und wird dir tödlich sein" (this sinful dropsy leads to destruction and will be fatal to you),[1] and alluding to Adam's fall, caused by self-exaltation in the forbidden quest to be like God, "Der Hochmut aß vordem von der verbotnen Frucht, Gott gleich zu werden" (Pride first ate the forbidden fruit, to be like God).

[2][10] The title of the autograph score reads: "Dom: 17 post Trin: / Ach lieben Xsten seyd getrost / a 4 Voc: / Corno / 2 Hautbois / 2 Violini / Viola / con / Continuo / di / Sign:JS:Bach".

[12] The Bach scholar Klaus Hofmann compares the movement to the opening of the cantata Jesu, der du meine Seele, BWV 78, written three weeks earlier: both "a sort of chaconne" in G minor, with a "French style" bass as "the expression of mourning and lamentation".

)[1] and the trusting "Allein zu Jesu Vaterhänden will ich mich in der Schwachheit wenden" (However, to Jesus' fatherly hands I will turn in my weakness),[1] The anxious question returns in the da capo form.

[3] The first recitative, "O Sünder, trage mit Geduld" (O sinner, bear with patience),[1] begins secco, but expresses the contrasting words "erhebst" (exalt) and "erniedrig" (humbled) from the Gospel as an arioso.