Translation © by Kelly Dean Hansen

O Heiland, reiß die Himmel auf
Language: German (Deutsch)  after the German (Deutsch) 
Available translation(s): CAT DUT ENG FRE
O Heiland, reiß die Himmel auf,
Herab, herab, vom Himmel lauf !
Reiß ab vom Himmel Tor und Tür,
Reiß ab, wo Schloß und Riegel für !

O Gott, ein' Tau vom Himmel gieß;
Im Tau herab, o Heiland, fließ.
Ihr Wolken, brecht und regnet aus
Den König über Jakobs Haus.

O Erd', schlag aus, schlag aus, o Erd',
Daß Berg und Tal grün alles werd'
O Erd', herfür dies Blümlein bring,
O Heiland, aus der Erden spring.

Wo bleibst du, Trost der ganzen Welt,
Darauf sie all' ihr' Hoffnung stellt ?
O komm, ach komm vom höchsten Saal,
Komm tröst uns hier im Jammertal.

O klare Sonn', du schöner Stern,
Dich wollten wir anschauen gern.
O Sonn', geh auf, ohn' deinen Schein
In Finsternis wir alle sein.

Hie leiden wir die größte Not,
Vor Augen steht der [bittre]1 Tod;
Ach komm, führ uns mit starker Hand
[Von]2 Elend zu dem Vaterland.

Da wollen wir all' danken dir,
Unserm Erlöser, für und für.
Da wollen wir all' loben dich
Je allzeit immer und ewiglich.3

J. Brahms sets stanzas 1-3, 6-7

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View original text (without footnotes)
1 Schmidt: "ewig' " (as in the original)
2 Schmidt: "Vom" (as in the original)
3 Brahms adds "Amen."

The text shown is a variant of another text.
It is based on

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive)

Available translations, adaptations, and transliterations (if applicable):

  • ENG English (Kelly Dean Hansen) , copyright © 2009, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • ENG English (Natalie Macfarren) , published 1879
  • FRE French (Français) (Guy Laffaille) , copyright © 2011, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Lau Kanen) , copyright © 2015, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
  • CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , title 1: "Oh Salvador, obre la volta celestial", copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission


Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website: 2006-01-05
Line count: 28
Word count: 174

O Savior, tear open the heavens
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
O Savior, tear open the heavens,
Hasten downward, downward from heaven!
Tear away the gate and door of heaven for us,
Tear off the locks and bolts!
 
O God, pour dew from heaven;
Flow downward, O Savior, in the dew.
Ye clouds, break and rain down
The king over Jacob's house.
 
O earth, break out, break out, O earth,
That all mountains and valleys may become green.
O earth, bring forth this flower here,
O savior, spring out of the earth.

[Where dost thou tarry, comforter of the whole world,
On whom she places all her hope?
O come, ah come from the most exalted hall,
Come comfort us here in the valley of sorrow.
 
O clear sun, thou beautiful star,
We much desire to behold thee.
O sun, rise, for without thy light
We are all in darkness.]
 
Here we suffer the greatest trials,
Before our eyes looms eternal death;
Ah come, lead us with a strong hand
From misery to the Father's land.
 
We all desire to thank thee,
Our redeemer, forever and ever.
We all desire to praise thee
ever and eternally at all times.

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Authorship

  • Translation from German (Deutsch) to English copyright © 2009 by Kelly Dean Hansen, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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This text was added to the website: 2009-05-13
Line count: 28
Word count: 188