Komm, heiliger Geist, mit Wonn

Here is my translation of the Pentecost hymn (sequence), “Komm, heiliger Geist, mit Wonn” (Martin Behm, d. 1622), a translation of the old Pentecost sequence, “Veni sancte Spiritus, et emitte caelitus,” in ELGB #170. Fischer omits it from his lexicon. Mützell in his entry gives the translation from Centuria precationum Rhythmicarum (Wittenberg: Berger, 1606), p. 97f., from which it was taken up by Breslau 1644 (with wrong attribution to Michael Bohemus); also in Erfurt 1648, Olearius’ Singekunst 1671, Leipzig 1673, etc. B. Meisner includes it also in his Meditationes Sacrae (1634) at the end of the postil for Pentecost Day. The melody in Breslau 1673, where it is also given for the Latin original, is a simplification of an ancient melody.

 

COME, Thou Holy Ghost with cheer,
Let from heaven’s seat appear
Of Thy light a glimmer clear.

2 Come, Thou Father of the poor,
Come, bestow Thy goodly store,
Come, our heart make glad e’ermore.

3 Comforter to them that grieve,
Sweetest Guest that souls receive,
With Thy peace our hearts relieve!

4 In our labor rest provide,
Cool those by cross-fever tried,
Stem the mourner’s tearful tide.

5 O Thou Light of heaven blest,
Make Thy ray in hearts to rest,
Which in faith Thou hast possessed.

6 Wanting Thy supporting flame,
No good thing we men can claim,
Who are filled with sin and shame.

7 Cleansing for our sins impart,
Water well the parchèd heart,
heal the wounded with Thine art.

8 Soften what is hard as stone,
Warm the heart that cold hath grown,
By the Word call back Thine own.

9 Give to them that Thee do hold
Only God, with faith made bold,
Thy pure gifts and sevenfold.

10 To us let Thy virtue flow,
Bless our end and mortal woe,
And in heaven bliss bestow.

Translation © 2023 Matthew Carver.

LATIN

Komm heiliger Geist mit Wonn,
schick herab vons Himmels Thron,
Dein Glanz von der Gnaden Sonn.

2 Komm, o Vater armer Leut,
komm, gieb uns die beste Beut,
komm, gieb unsern Herzen Freud.

3 Tröster gut ins Creuzes Last,
o Du süßer Seelen-Gast,
schaff dem Herzen Fried' und Rast.

4 Gieb uns in der Arbeit Ruh,
die Creuz-Hitz' uns lindern thu,
sprich uns Trost im Weinen zu.

5 O Du selig's Himmels-Licht,
Dein'n Glanz in die Herzen richt',
die Dir willig sein verpflicht't.

6 Ohn' Dein' göttlich' Hülf' und Rath,
der Mensch nichts Gut's kann, noch hat,
steckt voll Sünd' und Missethat.

7 Wasch' uns all' von Sünden rein,
feucht' die dürren Herzen fein,
heil die, so verwundet sein.

8 Lenk, was störrisch ist, so bald
wärm das Herz, wenn's ist erkalt't,
wer sich irrt, durchs Wort erhalt.

9 Gieb den'n, die da gläubig sein,
und auf Dich vertraun allein,
Dein mannigfältig' Gaben rein.

10 Durch Dein' Kraft an uns gedenk,
im Tod Dein Heil zu uns lenk,
und die Freud' im Himmel schenk.