"Look down, O Lord, from heaven behold"
                    by Martin Luther, 1483-1546
                             Text From:
                   THE HYMNS OF MARTIN LUTHER
           (New York: Charles Scribner'sSons, 1883), p. 7



        1. Look down, O Lord, from heaven behold,
        And let thy pity waken!
        How few the flock within thy fold,
        Neglected and forsaken!
        Almost thou'lt seek for faith in vain,
        And those who should thy truth maintain
        Thy Word from us have taken.

        2. With frauds which they themselves invent
        Thy truth they have confounded;
        Their hearts are not with one consent
        On thy pure doctrine grounded;
        And, whilst they gleam with outward show,
        They lead thy people to and fro,
        In error's maze astounded.

        3. God surely will uproot all those
        With vain deceits who store us,
        With haughty tongue who God oppose,
        And say, "Who'll stand before us?
        By right or might we will prevail;
        What we determine cannot fail,
        For who can lord it o'er us?"

        4. For this, saith God, I will arise,
        These wolves my flock are rending;
        I've heard my people's bitter sighs
        To heaven my throne ascending:
        Now will I up, and set at rest
        Each weary soul by fraud opprest,
        The poor with might defending.

        5. The silver seven times tried is pure
        From all adulteration;
        So, through God's word, shall men endure
        Each trial and temptation:
        Its worth gleams brighter through the cross,
        And, purified from human dross,
        It shines through every nation.

        6. Thy truth thou wilt preserve, O Lord,
        From this vile generation;
        Make us to lean upon thy word,
        With calm anticipation.
        The wicked walk on every side
        When, 'mid thy flock, the vile abide
        In power and exaltation.
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        Notes:
        Text: Psalm 12-"Salvum me fac, Domine.
        Hymn II from "The Hymns of Martin Luther"
        Author: Martin Luther
        Translated by: Frances Elizabeth Cox
        Titled: "Ach Gott, vom Himmel sich' darein"
        1st Melody: "Es ist das Heil uns kommen her,", 1524
        Harmony: A. Haupt, 1869
        2nd Melody: from Klug's Gesanbuch, 1543
        Harmony: A. Haupt, 1869
        1st Published in:"Eight Songs"
        Town: Wittenberg, 1524
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        This text was converted to ascii format for Project Wittenberg
        by Cindy A. Beesley and is in the public domain.  You may
        freely distribute, copy or print this text.  Please direct any
        comments or suggestions to: Rev. Robert E. Smith of the Walther
        Library at Concordia Theological Seminary.

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