Sonne der Gerechtigkeit

"Sonne der Gerechtigkeit"
"Sonne der Gerechtigkeit"
German Christian hymn
	The hymn in the first publication, the song book Ein neues Lied in 1932
English	Sun of justice
Text	Johann Christian Nehring (1704 3,7); Christian David (1728 1,6); Christian Gottlob Barth (1827 2,4,5); Otto Riethmüller (1932 compilation); ecumenical (1971 7a);
Language	German
Composed	1467
Published	1932

"Sonne der Gerechtigkeit" (Sun of Justice) is a German Christian hymn with a complex history. The image of a sun of justice or righteousness was created by the prophet Malachi. The text was compiled around 1930 by Otto Riethmüller from older stanzas by different hymnwriters, intended as a wake-up call to the church in a Germany facing the rise of the Nazis. Four of its originally seven stanzas were written in the 18th century, two by Johann Christian Nehring, and two by Christian David. The remaining stanzas were taken from Christian Gottlob Barth, written in the 19th century. An alternative seventh stanza was suggested in 1970, with a strong ecumenical focus. The hymn expresses a call for justice, renewal and unity, within the congregation and church, and among peoples.

The melody was originally a secular song from the 15th century, which was used for a hymn by the Bohemian Brethren in the 16th century. "Sonne der Gerechtigkeit" became part of many hymnals, sung in several Christian denominations and for ecumenical events. It inspired vocal and organ music. With its stress on justice "in unserer Zeit" (in our time), the song has been used with a political meaning. It was often sung at the peace prayers in East Germany which led to Germany's reunification.