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: "Now where 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.