BWV 28

Gottlob! nun geht das Jahr zu Ende (Praise God! The year now draws to a close),BWV 28, is a church cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach for the Sunday after Christmas. He first performed it on 30 December 1725.

Bach composed the cantata in his third year as Thomaskantor in Leipzig for the Sunday after Christmas. The prescribed readings for the Sunday were from the Epistle to the Galatians, through Christ we are free from the law (), and from the Gospel of Luke, Simeon and Anna talking to Mary ().

The cantata text is by Erdmann Neumeister: he included in movement 2 the first stanza of Johann Gramann's hymn "Nun lob, mein Seel, den Herren" (1530), a Bible quotation () in movement 3, and a hymn stanza by Paul Eber for the closing chorale. The chorale theme Helft mir Gotts Güte preisen (Zahn 5267) is of unknown authorship. The poet did not refer to the Bible readings for the day but portrayed thanks for the past year and prayers for preservation in the new year.

Bach first performed the cantata on 30 December 1725.

The cantata is scored for four vocal soloists (soprano, alto, tenor, bass) and four-part choir, cornetto, three trombones, two oboes, taille, two violins, viola and continuo.

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