Come, God Creator, Holy Ghost

Tune: Komm, Gott Schöpfer

  1. Come, God Creator, Holy Ghost,
    And visit Thou the hearts of men;
    Fill them with graces, as Thou dost,
    Thy creatures make pure again.

  2. For Comforter Thy name we call,
    Sweet Gift of God most high above,
    A holy Unction to us all,
    A living Fount, Fire, and Love.

  3. Our minds enlighten and refresh,
    Within our hearts make love burn bright;
    Thou know’st the weakness of our flesh:
    O strengthen us with Thy might.

  4. Thou who with graces sevenfold
    The Finger art of God’s right hand,
    The Father’s Word by Thee is told
    With tongues throughout ev’ry land.

  5. Drive far from us our wily Foe,
    Grant us Thy blessèd peace within,
    That in Thy footsteps we may go,
    And shun the dark ways of sin.

  6. Teach us to know the Father well,
    And Jesus Christ, His Son, our Lord,
    That in our hearts true faith may dwell,
    Thou Spirit of both, adored.

  7. Praise to the Father and the Son
    Who from the dead arose in pow’r;
    Praise to the Comforter be done
    Forever at ev’ry hour.

Komm, Gott Schöpfer Heiliger Geist
Martin Luther, 1524
Tr. Leonard Woolsey Bacon, alt.
Source: Evangelical Lutheran Hymn-Book, 1918, No. 249, alt.

German Text

Tune: Komm, Gott Schöpfer

  1. Komm, Gott Schöpfer, Heiliger Geist,
    Besucht das Herz der Menschen dein,
    Mit Gnaden sie füll, wie du weißt,
    Daß dein Geschöpf vorhin sein.

  2. Denn du bist der Tröster genannt,
    Des Allerhöchsten Gabe teur,
    Ein geistlich Salb an uns gewandt,
    Ein lebend Brunn, Lieb und Feur.

  3. Zünd uns ein Licht an im Verstand,
    Gib uns ins Herz der Liebe Brunst,
    Das schwach Fleisch in uns, dir bekannt,
    Erhalt fest dein Kraft und Gunst.

  4. Du bist mit Gaben seibenfalt
    Der Finger an Gotts rechter Hand;
    Des Vaters Wort gibst du gar bald
    Mit Zungen in alle Land.

  5. Des Feindes List treib von uns fern,
    Den Fried schaff bei uns deine Gnad,
    Daß wir deim Leiten folgen gern
    Und meiden der Seelen Schad.

  6. Lehr uns den Vater kennen wohl,
    Dazu Jesum Christ seinen Sohn,
    Daß wir des Glaubens werden voll,
    Dich, beider Geist, zu verstohn.

  7. Gott Vater sei Lob und dem Sohn,
    Der von den Todten auferstund,
    Dem Tröster sei daselb geton
    In Ewigkeit alle Stund.

Martin Luther, 1524
Translated from an old Latin hymn
Source: C.F.W. Walther’s Kirchen-Gesangbuch, 1898 printing, No. 132

Martin Luther

Martin Luther, 1483–1546, portrait by Lucas Cranach the Elder, 1533


Author: Martin Luther
Source: Eyn Enchiridion oder Handbüchlein, Erfurt, 1524

Luther’s translation of the old Latin hymn “Veni Creator Spiritus” first appeared in the Erfurt Enchiridion in 1524. The versions in The Lutheran Hymnal, 1941, No. 233, and the Lutheran Service Book, 2006, Nos. 498–499, “Come, Holy Ghost, Creator Blest,” are based on the earlier Latin text. For the Free Lutheran Chorale-Book, the version in the Evangelical Lutheran Hymn-Book, 1927, No. 249, which is an altered version of the translation from Luther’s German by Leonard Woolsey Bacon, has been used, slightly revised to bring it into closer conformity to Luther’s German. Both text and music may be freely used and reproduced for any purpose whatever, and are offered with the prayer that they may serve for the edification of Christian people everywhere.