[Where]1 is the singer's homeland? --
     There, where the sparks of noble spirits burst forth,
     Where wreaths blossomed for what is beautiful,
     Where strong hearts glowed happily,
     Blazing for everything that is holy: --
There was my homeland!

What is the name of the singer's homeland? --
     Now [it weeps] over the corpses of its sons,
     Now it weeps under the blows of foreigners;
     In the past it was only called the Land of the Oaks,
     The free land, the German land:
That was the name of my homeland!

Why does the singer's homeland weep? --
     That, before the storms of the madman,
     The princes of its people tremble,
     That their holy words are splintering,
     And that [the land's] call was not heard.
That is why my homeland weeps!

To whom does the singer's homeland call out? --
     It calls out toward the gods who have fallen mute;
     With the thunderstorms of despair,
     [It calls out] to its freedom, to its saviours,
     To the avenging hand of retribution:
That is to whom my homeland calls out!

What does the singer's homeland want? --
     It wants to beat down the menials,
     To chase the bloodhound from out of its borders
     And to carry the free sons freely
     Or to bed them freely under the sand:
That is what my homeland wants!

And does the singer's homeland hope [for anything]? --
     It sets its hopes upon the just cause,
     Hopes that its faithful people shall wake up.
     Sets its hopes upon the vengeance of the great God,
     And has not underestimated the avenger:
That is what my homeland hopes!