205 O Lord, Look Down from Heaven

1 O Lord, look down from heav'n, behold And let your pity waken. How few are we within your fold, Your saints by all forsaken! True faith seems quenched on ev'ry hand; Your Word is not allowed to stand. Dark times have us o'ertaken. 2 O God, root out all heresy, And of false teachers rid us Who proudly say, "Now where is he Who shall our speech forbid us? By right or might we shall prevail; What we determine cannot fail; We want no lord and master!" 3 Therefore said God, "I must arise, The poor my help are needing. To me ascend my people's cries, And I have heard their pleading." For them my saving Word shall fight And fearlessly and sharply smite, The poor with might defending. 4 Defend your truth, O God, and stay This evil generation. And from the error of its way Keep your own congregation. The wicked everywhere abound And would your little flock confound, But you are our salvation!