Palästinalied

[Verse] Life's true worth at last beginneth, Now my sinful eyes behold The holy land, the earth that winneth Fame for glories man-ifold. I have won my lifelong prayer: I am in the country where God in human shape did fare! [Beat] [Verse] Lands, the greatest, goodliest, fairest, Many such, mine eyes have seen; O'er them all the crown thou bearest. Think what wonders here have bean! From a Maid a babe did spring, O'er the angel hosts a king; Was that not a wondrous thing? [Beat] [Verse] Here He was baptized with water, That men might be as pure as He. Here He let them sell Him later, That we thralls might so be free. We had else been lost, I wis. Spear, Cross, thorn, your praise it is. Heathens, woe! ye rage at this! [Beat] [Verse] Down to hell the Son descended From the grave wherein he lay. Him the Father still attended And the Ghost, whom no man may E’er disjoin; the three are one: Shaft so smooth and straight there’s none, As to Abraham it was shown! [Beat] As to Abraham it was shown! [Beat] [Verse] When He quelled the fiend and ended Such a fight as king ne’er fought, Here to earth He re-ascended. Sorrow to the Jews it brought; Through their guard He broke amain; Living was He seen a-gain, Whom their hands had pierced and slain! [Beat] [Verse] Here a day of dreadful sum-munns He appointed for this land. Orphan’s wrongs and widowed woman’s Shall be righted by His hand! Then the poor man may declare All the violence he must bear. Penance here brings blessing there! [Beat] [Verse] That this land, they do inherit Christians, Jews, and heathens claim. God adjudge it where the merit Lie-eth, in His threefold name! All the world strives here, we see; Yet we hold the rightful plea: God will grant it rightfully! [Beat] [Fade Out]