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Es zieht ein stiller Engel Durch dieses Erdenland, Zum Trost für Erdenmängel Hat ihn der Herr gesandt. In seinem Blick ist Frieden Und milde, sanfte Huld, O folg' ihm stets hienieden, Dem Engel der Geduld! ... Er macht zu linder Wehmuth Den herbsten Seelenschmerz, Und taucht in stille Demuth Das ungestüme Herz. Er macht die finstre Stunde Allmählich wieder hell, Er heilet jede Wunde Gewiß, wenn auch nicht schnell. Er führt dich immer treulich Auch durch das schwerste Leid, Und redet so erfreulich Von einer schönern Zeit. Denn willst du ganz verzagen, Hat er doch guten Muth; Er hilft das Kreuz dir tragen, Und macht noch Alles gut. ... Er zürnt nicht deinen Thränen, Wenn er dich trösten will; Er tadelt nicht dein Sehnen, Nur macht er's fromm und still. Und wenn in Sturm und Toben Du murrend fragst: warum? Dann deutet er nach oben, Mild lächelnd, aber stumm.
Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1,3,2,4 of the original text.
Composition:
- Set to music by Heinrich Proch (1809 - 1878), "Der Engel der Geduld", op. 71, published 1840, stanzas 1,3,2,4 [ voice and piano ], Wien, Diabelli und Co.
Text Authorship:
- by Karl Johann Philipp Spitta (1801 - 1859), "Geduld"
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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- ENG English (Sharon Krebs) , copyright © 2026, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
Research team for this page: Sharon Krebs [Senior Associate Editor], Johann Winkler
This text was added to the website: 2007-12-06
Line count: 40
Word count: 186
A quiet angel travels Through this earthly land, The Lord has sent him as a comfort For the deficiencies of the earth. Peace is in his gaze, And gentle, soft benevolence; Oh, follow him ever here below, The angel of patience! ... He transforms the most bitter pain Of your soul into gentle melancholy, And immerses your unruly heart In quiet humility. Little by little he makes The dark hour bright again, He heals every wound Surely, even if not quickly. He ever leads you faithfully Even through the gravest suffering, And speaks so encouragingly Of a better time to come. For even if you are near to utter despair, He is full of good cheer; He helps you bear your cross And leads everything to a good end. ... He is not angry about your tears When he wishes to comfort you; He does not reproach your yearning, He only makes it pious and still. And when in storm and raging You grumblingly ask: why? He then points upward, Mutely, but smiling gently.
Note: the text above is taken from stanzas 1,3,2,4 of the original text.
Text Authorship:
- Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2026 by Sharon Krebs, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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Based on:
- a text in German (Deutsch) by Karl Johann Philipp Spitta (1801 - 1859), "Geduld"
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This text was added to the website: 2026-10-19
Line count: 40
Word count: 219