Das Göttliche (The Divine) is a hymn in the Weimar Classicism style written by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.
It was composed in 1783, and first appeared in 1785 without Goethe's consent in the publication On the Teachings of Spinoza[1][2] by Friedrich Heinrich Jacobi.
Denn das allein Unterscheidet ihn Von allen Wesen, Die wir kennen.
Nach ewigen, ehrnen, Großen Gesetzen Müssen wir alle Unseres Daseins Kreise vollenden.
Unermüdet schaff’ er Das Nützliche, Rechte, Sei uns ein Vorbild Jener geahneten Wesen!
Fortune too Reaches through the crowd Grabs the curly-headed boy In his innocence, And then the bald one Who is old and malevolent.
He alone may Reward the good Punish the wicked, Heal and redeem, And bind to purpose Everything wrong and lost.