"O Lord, Look Down from Heaven, Behold"

                    by Martin Luther, 1483-1546

                               Text From:

                       THE LUTHERAN HYMNAL

        (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1941)







        1. O Lord, look down from heaven, behold

        And let Thy pity waken:

        How few are we within Thy Fold,

        Thy saints by men forsaken!

        True faith seems quenched on every hand,

        Men suffer not Thy Word to stand;

        Dark times have us o'ertaken.



        2. With fraud which they themselves invent

        Thy truth they have confounded;

        Their hearts are not with one consent

        On Thy pure doctrine grounded.

        While they parade with outward show,

        They lead the people to and fro,

        In error's maze astounded.



        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?

        By right or might we shall prevail;

        What we determine cannot fail;

        We own no lord and master."



        4. Therefore saith God, "I must arise,

        The poor My help are needing;

        To Me ascend My people's cries,

        And I have heard their pleading.

        For them My saving Word shall fight

        And fearlessly and sharply smite,

        The poor with might defending."



        5. As silver tried by fire is pure

        From all adulteration,

        So through God's Word shall men endure

        Each trial and temptation.

        Its light beams brighter through the cross,

        And, purified from human dross,

        It shines through every nation.



        6. Thy truth defend, O God, and stay

        This evil generation;

        And from the error of their way

        Keep Thine own congregation.

        The wicked everywhere abound

        And would Thy little flock confound;

        But Thou art our Salvation.



        


        Notes:

        Hymn 260 from _The Lutheran Hymnal_

        Text: Ps. 12

        Author: Martin Luther, 1523

        Translated by: composite

        Titled: "Ach Gott vom Himmel, sieh darein"

        Tune: "Ach Gott vom Himmel"

        1st Published in: _Enchiridion_

        Town: Erfurt, 1524