Mighty, thundering God! Give thunder-power
to your heart-penetrating Word, so that we see
the Spirit-Lightning, and feel its heat-strike
that snatches all our hearts’ pride away.
This thunder-rumbling has power to transform:
God’s presence reigns in times of terror.
This dreadful cannon-blast is fruitful,
just as God’s zeal is charged with grace.
That wonder-flash, God’s Word, will neither wound the soul
nor weaken the body; to strengthen is his only goal.
His Spirit-subtlety can penetrate unnoticed.
At times, he is pleased to overwhelm with sound.
Protect us, O God, from the clouds’ thunderclaps:
your Word, although it strike us, will transform us.
Click here to read this sonnet in the original German.
