We Now Implore God the Holy Ghost

Nun bitten wir den Heiligen Geist

Text by Anonymous medieval German source, Martin Luther

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About this hymn

Historical background

Luther expanded a medieval German stanza into a four-stanza Pentecost hymn in 1524.

Theology & Scripture

Each stanza petitions the Holy Spirit for gifts needed in faith, love, knowledge, and death.

Jn 14:26 · 16:13-15 · Eph 4:3-6 · Rom 8:23-27 · 9:1 · 1Cor 12:3

Musical background

Nun bitten wir is presented in the documented public-domain setting named by the source score. This edition contains four-part SATB harmony in F.

Sources & rights

Verified for United States on 2026-10-12. Public domain — source score marking

Words: v.1 ancient German. verses 2-4 Martin Luther, 1524. Translation composite. Music: 'Nun Bitten wir den Heiligen Geist' ancient German found in Walter's Geistliche Gesangbüchlein, 1524. Setting: "Evangelical Lutheran Hymn-Book", 1931. copyright: public domain. This score is a part of the Open Hymnal Project, 2009 Revision.
Translation is public domain per Project Wittenberg: http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/wittenberg/hymns/implore.txt