Oh Lord God
almighty, how very lovable are your commandments, worth more than
all fine gold, through which we honour you in your holy community
(in deiner heiligen Gemeine).
You have made
your will and ways clearly known to us. Your truth shines through
everything you created -- your wonderful works through
which you call us and let us get born again.
From
the the heavens, the immensity of the star worlds, we learn what you
are like. We learn of your high honour and power. And with that we
take our teachings from the earth and from the sea.
You speak to us
Lord from the mountains and from the deep valleys. You speak to us
from the fields. The birds of the forest make your truth known.
Everything you
made Lord, praises you, for you did everything right. You set your
works in eternal flawless order, for us to see and learn from -- for
us to care for as well.
For this reason
you sent us your Son -- you sent him to open the Way of Truth to us,
the Way you want us to walk as your Spirit directs.
Your Son opens
the Scriptures to us. He tells us what you have in mind for the
whole world and how you want none to turn away from you.
Your Son
overcame the power of death -- really man and really God (ein
rechter Mensch und wahrer Gott) he let us see and be convinced. He
fed us Truth and for this we praise you!
He sent us your
Holy Spirit, the strength of the timid. He wrote your Truth into our
hearts so we may stay with you and keep from falling into vice and
sin.
The Holy Spirit
whose presence among us was won by Jesus on the
cross, is our certain guarantee, sent to us as proof of our coming
inheritance.
For this we
praise and honour you, God! You who live and reign forever. Of your
Son, Lord, we shall never be ashamed, so help us now and through
eternity! Amen.
