ðə tˈɛkst fɚðɪ ɐsˈɛnʃən ˌɔːɹətˈoːɹɪˌoʊ, ɐ kˌɑːmpɪlˈeɪʃən ʌv sˈɛvɹəl bˈɪblɪkəl sˈoːɹsᵻz, fɹˈiː pˈoʊɪtɹi ænd kˈoːɹeɪlz, wʌz pɹɪzˈuːməbli ɹˈɪʔn̩ baɪ pˈɪkændɚ hˌuː hæd ɹˈɪʔn̩ ðə lɪbɹˈɛɾi fɚðə sənt mˈæθjuː pˈæʃən ænd ˈʌðɚ wˈɜːks baɪ bˈɑːx.
The text for the Ascension Oratorio, a compilation of several biblical sources, free poetry and chorales, was presumably written by Picander who had written the libretti for the St Matthew Passion and other works by Bach.