I know thee as my God and stand apart -- [German translation]

I know thee as my God and stand apart --

I do not know thee as my own and come closer.

I know thee as my father

and bow before thy feet --

I do not grasp thy hand as my friend's.

I stand not where thou comest down

and ownest thyself as mine,

there to clasp thee to my heart

and take thee as my comrade.

Thou art the Brother amongst my brothers,

but I heed them not,

I divide not my earnings with them,

thus sharing my all with thee.

In pleasure and in pain I stand not by the side of men,

and thus stand by thee.

I shrink to give up my life,

and thus do not plunge into the great waters of life.