What a beautiful longing...

What a beautiful longing, what Heaven binds us!
I sing with tears, You soothe them
I love the world for your sake,
that in her I see You in flowers and thorns.

In the white lilies It's your kiss,
In the poppies I see Calvary's blood.
For your sake, I love the sea
and the boundless sky!

In the cold lumps I see you sow
and in the thorns I see the bloody footsteps.
I love people for your sake;
today they are strangers, hands, maybe brothers!

When herds pass by longing
and say a whistle, "I'm with you!"
for your sake I love the shepherd
what a chest for sheep!

In the elect I see Your love,
with them singing your psalms in the valleys ...
For your sake I look at them;
on their cheeks, I kiss yours!

And how I was not allowed to see your face,
wanted by the stars as a magician,
for your sake I love my life,
and death is just a threshold ...