O God, from heaven look down and see, A sight which well may move Thee: Of godly men, how few there be; Forsaken we who love Thee! Withheld is Thy pure Word, the light Of faith itself extinguished quite In all the sons of Adam. 2. Fictions they teach with cunning art And lies of man’s invention; Not grounded on God’s Word, their heart Breeds naught but strange dissension; One chooses this, another that, Untold division they create Though saintlike in appearance. 3. May God root out all heresy And of false teachers rid us, Who proudly say: “Now, where is he Who would our speech forbid us! We have the right and might alone, And what we say must stand, we own None as our lord and master.” 4. Therefore saith God: “I must arise To quell their great wrong-doing; To Me ascend My people’s sighs, And I have heard their suing. My saving Word shall take the field, Shall be the poor man’s strength and shield, Shall conquer all opponents.” 5. As silver seven times furnace-tried, Is pure from all its drosses, So doth the Word of God abide The brighter for its crosses; For trial shows its worth aright And manifests its strength and light, That through all lands it shineth. 6. O God, preserve it pure and free From this vile generation And let us be preserved by Thee From their abomination. The wicked walk on every side When mid Thy flock the vile abide In power and are exalted. Ps. 12. Martin Luther, 1524. 279 10, 10, 10, 4 Christ, Thou the Champion of the band who own Thy Cross, O make Thy succor quickly known! The schemes of those who long our blood have sought Bring Thou to naught. 2. Do Thou Thyself for us, Thy children, fight, Withstand the devil, quell his rage and might; Whate’er assails Thy members left below Do Thou o’erthrow. 3. And give us Thy peace: peace in Church and school; Peace to the powers who o’er our country rule; Peace to the conscience, peace within the heart, Do Thou impart. 4. So shall Thy goodness here be still adored, Thou Guardian of Thy little flock, dear Lord; And heaven and earth through all eternity Shall worship Thee. M. A. von Loewenstern, 1644; C. Winkworth, tr. abr. 280 11, 11, 11, 5 Ah! Lord, our God, let them not be confounded Who, though by want and woe and pain surrounded, Yet day and night still for Thy hope are sighing, To Thee are crying. 2. But put to shame Thy foes who breathe defiance And make their own vain might their sole reliance. O turn in mercy to Thy generation; Lord, have compassion!