2. Arie (Duett) Sopran, Alto
Wir eilen mit schwachen, doch emsigen Schritten,
O Jesu, o Meister, zu helfen zu Dir.
Du suchest die Kranken und Irrenden treulich.
Ach höre, wie wir
Die Stimmen erheben, um Hülfe zu bitten!
Es sei uns dein gnädiges Antlitz erfreulich!
We hasten with weak, yet eager steps,
O Jesus, o Master, to You to help.
You faithfully seek the ill and erring.
Ah, hear, how we
lift up our voices to beg for help!
Your gracious countenance be joyful to us!
Commentary: translations easily found on the Internet give the second line line, incorrectly, as "O Jesus, o Master, to You for help." The German "helfen" is a verb, not a noun, and the singers hasten with weak, yet eager steps, to Jesus to help Him - as he seeks the ill and erring.
The thought that we are asking for his help does appear, properly, but not until three lines later.