Johann Sebastian Bach Der Geist hilft unser Schwachheit auf

The Spirit makes our weakness strong,
for we do not know what we ought to pray for,
or how to ask it;
but then the Spirit himself comes to help us,
with inexpressible sighing.
Romans 8:26

And he to whom all hearts are open,
he knows what is in the Spirit;
for so he helps all righteous men,
as God himself has willed it.
Romans 8:27

O holiest fire, sweetest help,
now grant that we, in joy and hope,
be always constant in thy service;
in sorrow guide and preserve us.
O Lord, confirm us by thy power;
make strong and perfect our desire,
that we by noble endeavor
may pass through death to life forever.
Alleluia.
Martin Luther 1524
„Komm, Heiliger Geist, Herre Gott“ (verse 3)

Translation: Jean Lunn

...

1. Der Geist hilft unser Schwachheit auf Der Geist hilft unser Schwachheit auf,
denn wir wissen nicht, was wir beten sollen,
wie sich’s gebühret;
sondern der Geist selbst vertritt aufs Beste
mit unaussprechlichem Seufzen.
Römer 8,26

2. Allabreve Der aber die Herzen forschet,
der weiß, was des Geistes Sinn sei;
denn er vertritt die Heiligen
nach dem, das Gott gefället.
Römer 8,27

3. Choral 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,

...

Uwe Wolf
Translation (abridged): Elizabeth Robinson

The first printed edition of Johann Sebastian Bach’s motets appeared in Leipzig in 1802/03, over fifty years after the composer’s death. This was not only the first edition of the famous motets, but was also the first printed edition of Bach’s vocal works at all since 1708. It differs in some respects from our present-day editions, primarily in the inclusion in the place of the motet Lobet den Herrn of Ich lasse dich nicht, du segnest mich denn, attributed a little later to Johann Christoph Bach. In reprints of the first printed edition, accordingly, this was replaced by Lobet den Herrn, establishing the group of six motets which ultimately found their place in the Bach-Werke-Verzeichnis (Bach Works Catalog) as BWV 225–230, where they long held an undisputed position.

But doubts remain about Lobet den Herrn. There is so much which is curious about this motet, which breaks every rule, so that in the form in which it is known to us, it may well not be by Bach. On the other hand, we nevertheless believe that we find so much of Bach in it that hardly any other composer can be contemplated. We

...