Translation by Natalie Macfarren (1826 - 1916)

O Heiland, reiß die Himmel auf
Language: German (Deutsch)  after the German (Deutsch) 
Our translations:  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

Available sung texts: (what is this?)

•   J. Brahms •   S. Schmidt •   S. Schmidt 

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. [ View differences ]
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

Oh Saviour, ope the heav'nly gates
Language: English  after the German (Deutsch) 
Oh Saviour, ope the heav'nly gates,
Come down, Thy faithful people waits,
unbar the bolts that close Thy heav'n,
At last, oh let the veil be riv'n.

Oh let Thy heav'nly dew descend,
in dews of grace, oh Saviour, bend,
Pour clouds, and let your torrents bring
To Jacob's house a Lord and King.

Break forth, oh earth break forth this day,
Let hill and dale bloom green and gay,
Oh earth, bring forth one fairest flow'r,
Oh Saviour, come on earth once more.











In sore affliction here we bide,
From bitter death we cannot hide,
Come, lead us, forth with mighty hand
From exile to our Father's land.

There we will raise our songs of praise,
Saviour, to Thee thro' endless days,
Thee men and angels all adore,
That wast and art, now and evermore. Amen.

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Based on:

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):

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Researcher for this page: Guy Laffaille [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2011-03-08
Line count: 20
Word count: 137