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Texts & Translations: Main Page | Cantatas BWV 1-50 | Cantatas BWV 51-100 | Cantatas BWV 101-150 | Cantatas BWV 151-200 | Cantatas BWV 201-224 | Other Vocal BWV 225-249 | Chorales BWV 250-438 | Geistliche Lieder BWV 439-507 | AMN BWV 508-524 | Other Vocal 1081-1164 | BWV Anh | Chorale Texts | Emblemata | Sources | Poets & Composers
Discussions: Texts: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Translations: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4


Text for BWV 226 (Motet)
Der Geist hilft unser Schwachheit auf

Original German Text

English Translation

1. CHOR I & II

Der Geist hilft unser Schwachheit auf,
denn wir wissen nicht,
was wir beten sollen,
wie sich's gebühret;
sondern der Geist selbst
vertritt uns aufs beste
mit unaussprechlichem Seufzen.

Der aber die Herzen forschet,
der weiß, was des Geistes Sinn sei;
denn er vertritt die Heiligen nach dem,
das Gott gefället.

The Spirit helps us in our weakness;
for we know not
how we ought to pray,
as we should;
rather the Spirit itself intercedes
on our behalf for that which is best,
with sighs beyond expression.

Yet whoever searches the heart
knows the Spirit’s intent,
for it intercedes for the saints
according to the will of God.

2. CORALE

Du heilige Brunst, süßer Trost
nun hilf uns, fröhlich und getrost
in deinem Dienst beständig bleiben,
die Trübsal uns nicht abtreiben.
O Herr, durch dein Kraft uns bereit
und stärk des Fleisches Blödigkeit,
daß wir hie ritterlich ringen,
durch Tod und Leben zu dir dringen.
Halleluja, Halleluja.

You sacred fervor, solace sweet,
help us now, joyfully and confidently,
to remain constant in service to you,
tribulation not hindering us.
O Lord, ready us by your might
and bolster the weakness of flesh
that we hence might gallantly wrestle
through death and life, urgently toward you.
Hallelujah, Hallelujah.


COMPOSED: October 20, 1729 (Leipzig) for the funeral of Johann Heinrich Ernesti, Rector of the School of St. Thomas
LIBRETTO: Part I, Romans 8:26-27; Part II, Martin Luther, stanza 3 of Komm, Heiliger Geist, Herre Gott (1524)
TRANSLATION: 2018 © Tobin Schmuck, NYC
Print by permission only, please. Click here.

Motets BWV 225-231: Details
Recordings: 1900-1949 | 1950-1959 | 1961-1969 | 1970-1979 | 1980-1989 | 1990-1999 | 2000-2009 | 2010-2019 | 2020-2029
General Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2 | Systematic Discussions: BWV 225 | BWV 226 | BWV 227 | BWV 228 | BWV 229 | BWV 230 | BWV 231 | BWV 225-231 - Summary
Individual Recordings: Motets - K. Junghänel & Cantus Cölln | Motets - E. Ericson | Motets - D. Fasolis | Motets - N. Harnoncourt | Motets - R. Kammler

BWV 226 Text: German-1 | German-6 | German-7
Translations: English-1 | English-3I | English-3P | English-5 | English-6 | English-10 | English-13
Chinese-2 | Dutch-0 | Dutch-3 | French-6 | Hebrew | Romanian-1 | Indonesian-1 | Italian-2 | Portuguese-2 | Russian-1 | Russian-3 | Spanish-7
Chorale Text: Komm, Heiliger Geist, Herre Gott [BWV 226/2]

English Translations (English-10): Index by BWV Number | Index by Title | Index by Event | Note on English Translations


Texts & Translations: Main Page | Cantatas BWV 1-50 | Cantatas BWV 51-100 | Cantatas BWV 101-150 | Cantatas BWV 151-200 | Cantatas BWV 201-224 | Other Vocal BWV 225-249 | Chorales BWV 250-438 | Geistliche Lieder BWV 439-507 | AMN BWV 508-524 | Other Vocal 1081-1164 | BWV Anh | Chorale Texts | Emblemata | Sources | Poets & Composers
Discussions: Texts: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Translations: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4




 

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Last update: Tuesday, December 12, 2023 14:11