1 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 saint-like in appearance.

3 May God root out all heresy,
And of false teachers rid us,
Who proudly say: Tush, who is he
That shall 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,
The poor suffer 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 opposers."

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.