NEUOFFENBARUNGTo sing to the Lord in the poverty of the spirit
1. Gloomy and weak my spirit lies down, and the soul, a bodily garment for the eternal spirit, is torn by miserable futile concerns of the world.
2. Oh how thirsty and weak is the eternal spirit in me still! He, who should live forever, is sick, even very sick, since the flesh has snatched from him his soul, his garment, and thereby also snatched from him the most necessary food, even the most meager nourishment for eternal life, the love to God, yes, the love to the most holy Father in heaven.
3. Oh what a terrible poverty! The spirit, the immortal spirit, as the source of love, the measure of God in me has dried up, has become almost completely lifeless. How great is the poverty in me.
4. For I hear the words, living words of eternal life no more; like an external senseless sound they now glide past my ears deafened by worldly things. Harmonious sounds that once filled my eye with tears, and made the heart in the body leap with joy, they pass me, the blunt one, by like everyday chatter.
5. The tear of poverty, the hot, the burning tear of the suffering pleading brother, this sanctuary of God in the eye of the brother – it no longer moves me; only with a cold, unfeeling heart do I give him a meagerly measured gift in the extreme case.
6. I am also left completely numb and dull by an honestly winking better love at me from a sister, however lovely! For my feeling is dead, yes, the innermost fiber of the heart has become completely dead in me.
7. And Your countless daily miracles, dear holy Father, they pass by even very unnoticed before my blinded spirit; the most glorious rising of the sun is like the wandering night to me.
8. Even the terrible roaring and raging of death, the daily dying of the brothers, the wailing death knell, the lamenting songs at the coffin and grave of killed brothers and sisters have become to me an everyday completely unnoticed spectacle, which neither deserves the applause nor a well-founded rebuke from my impoverished spirit.
9. Oh you terrible greatness of poverty of spirit in me: When, oh when will I get rid of you, and when will an abundant life of love live in me again?
10. Oh my Jesus! You eternally almighty Master of life, You holy, most loving Father! Have mercy on me for once and awaken in love the spirit in me that is inclined to death, so that again I would like to feel a more abundant becoming life in me yet.
11. Oh my Jesus, my Holy Father! Awaken but once to full life the spirit that has sunk into the greatest poverty and weakness – and let You be found once by me, oh Holy Father!
12. For in such poverty it is probably never possible to lift oneself up to You and give honor and praise to You alone, because the mute, almost deadening spirit is completely incapable of it; therefore then transform my filthy heart! And also want to commemorate of the daily bread to eternal life, so I will soon arise again with completely renewed strength to praise You, Holy Father, with an immortal tongue in the mouth of the reborn spirit. Your holy will be done always forever. Amen.