Chorale Texts used in Bach's Vocal Works
Herr Jesu Christ! dich zu uns wend
Text and Translation of Chorale

Ref. in hymnals/hymn books: NLGB 314; GH 240; KELG 2
Author: Wilhelm II Duke Sachsen–Weimar (Lutherisch Hand-Büchlein, Altenburg, 1648)
Chorale Melody: Herr Jesu Christ, dich zu uns wend (Zahn 624) | Composer: Anon (Pensum sacrum, Görlitz (1648), based on an earlier melody (Gochsheim/Redwitz, 1628)
Theme: Word of God & Christian Church

Description:

The hymn, “Herr Jesu Christ, dich zu uns wend’,” was first published (stanzas i-iii) in Johann Niedling’s Lutherisch Hand-Büchlein (Altenburg, 1648). It was repeated, with the melody (supra) and the fourth stanza, in the Cantionale Sacrum (Gotha, 1651). The hymn is attributed, on inconclusive evidence, to Wilhelm II Duke Sachsen–Weimar. He was born in 1598, studied music, among other subjects, at Jena, fought in the Thirty Years’ War on the Protestant side, and died in 1662. The hymn is entitled “Frommer Christen Hertzens-Seufftzerlein umb Gnade und Beystand des Heiligen Geistes, bey dem Gottesdienst vor den Predigten” (A heartfelt petition of pious Christians for grace and the help of the Holy Spirit, during Divine Service before the sermon). It was in use in Saxony on all Sundays and festivals.
The melody (supra) attached to the hymn in 1651 is found three years earlier in an octavo volume published at Görlitz, entitled Pensum sacrum, Metro-Rhythmicum, CCLXVII Odis...denuo expansum expensumque Opera et Studio Tobiae Hauschkonii (1648), whose Appendix contains eighty melodies, without texts, suitable for the Latin odes in the volume. Among them (No. 45) is the melody printed supra. It occurs among several old hymn tunes, and, no doubt, dates from an older period than the volume in which it first appears. Bach’s text of the melody is invariable and follows the 1648 text except in the Choralgesänge, No. 139, where he follows Witt (No. 240) in a variation of the end of the second phrase of the tune.
Probably it is not an unrelated coincidence that the number of Bach’s Organ movements upon the melody equals the number of stanzas of the hymn. Their differing moods and appropriateness to a particular stanza support the assumption that Bach had the text of the hymn before him and followed it closely. The four movements are discussed in the order of their assumed association with the hymn text (see below under Untexted).
Source: Charles Sanford Terry: Johann Sebastian Bach, Bach’s Chorals, vol. 3 The Hymns and Hymn Melodies of the Organ Works [1921], pp 176-180

The sermon in the vespers was preceded by the traditional pulpit hymn, "Herr Jesus Christ, dich zu uns wend," NLGB 314, Word of God & Christian Church (https://books.google.com/books?id=UmVkAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA817#v=onepage&q&f=false) in four 4-line (AABB) stanzas of Wilhelm II Duke Sachsen–Weimar (Görlitz 1648). It is based on the anonymous Pensum sacrum to the associated melody (Zahn 624, Gochsheim/Redwitz 1628) set as a plain chorale, BWV 332 http://www.bach-chorales.com/BWV0332.htm, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vn3LSgEUZeg).
"Herr Jesus Christ, dich zu uns wend" was the pulpit hymn sung at all main and vesper services in Leipzig says Stiller (Ibid.: 124, 258). It also is found in the Schmelli Gesangbuch (Leipzig, 1736) as No. 375, Trinity Sunday. The stanzas of "Herr Jesus Christ, dich zu uns wend" are summarized as follows: 1. invocation asking Jesus to send the Holy Spirit; 2. requesting increased faith; 3. seeing the end of time with Jesus in everlasting happiness (references, Isaiah 6:3 and Revelation 4:8 (Sanctus), and Revelation 22:3-4(God's countenance), and 4. Trinitarian doxology, says Anne Leahy. This is a chorale of joy celebrating the salvation of mankind, culminating in the eschatological Stanza 3. It is known in English as "Lord Jesus Christ, be present now!" (Catherine Winkworth, https://hymnary.org/text/lord_jesus_christ_be_present_now) in the current Lutheran Worship, No. 527, Gathering.
Source: Good Friday Chorales (William Hoffman, March 31, 2018)

Vocal Works by J.S. Bach:

Chorale Herr Jesu Christ, dich zu uns wend, BWV 332
Ref: RE 136; Breitkopf 136; KE 139; Birnstiel 140; AmB 46II p.79 & p.110; Penzel 101; BGA 79; BC F85.1; CST 142

German Text (verses in bold print set by Bach)

English Translation

1. Herr Jesu Christ! dich zu uns wend,
Dein' Heil'gen Geist du zu uns send:
Mit Hilf' und Gnad', er uns regier
Und uns den Weg zur Wahrheit führ.

1. Lord Jesus Christ! Turn towards us,
send your Holy Spirit to us:
with her help and grace may he rule us
and lead us on the way to truth.

2. Thu auf den Mund zum Lobe dein,
Bereit das Herz zur Andacht fein,
Den Glauben mehr, stärk den Verstand,
Daß uns dein Nam werd wohl bekannt.

2. Open our mouths to your praise,
make our hearts ready for worship,
increase our faith, strengthen our understanding
so that your name will be well known to us.

3. Bis wir singen mit Gottes Heer:
Heilig, heilig ist Gott, der Herr,
Und schauen dich von Angesicht
In ew'ger Freud' und sel'gem Licht.

3. Until we sing with athe host of God:
holy, holy is God, the Lord,
and behold you face-to-face
in eternal joy and blessed light’

4. Ehr sei dem Vater und dem Sohn,
Dem heil'gen Geist in Einem Thron,
Der heiligen Dreieinigkeit
Sie Lob und Preis in Ewigkeit.

4. Honour to the Father and to the son
and to the Holy Spirit, on one throne,
to the holy Trinity
praise and glory in eternity.

Source of the German Text: Kirchenbuch für Evangelisch-Lutherische Gemeinden #2 (Hymnary.org)
English Translation by Francis Browne (May 2015)
Contributed by Francis Browne (May 2015)