The Soul Wherein God Dwells

The soul wherein God dwells—
What church could holier be?—
Becomes a walking tent
Of heavenly majesty.

Though Christ a thousand times
In Bethlehem be born,
If He’s not born in thee,
Thy soul is still forlorn.

O would thy heart but be
A manger for His birth,
God would once more become
A Child upon this earth.

Author: Angelus Silesius

Year: 1657

This is a well-known English translation of one of the epigrammatic poems from Angelus Silesius (Johann Scheffler)'s 'Cherubinischer Wandersmann' (Cherubinic Wanderer), first published in 1657. The original German begins 'Wo Gott in dir wohnt...' and the given stanzas are a close rendering of several of his couplets grouped together.