Ach, wie wird das Herz so leer

The German hymn "Ach, wie wird das Herz so leer" was composed by Carl Johann Philipp Spitta to reflect the theme of spiritual homesickness and a deep longing for heaven. It was originally published on page 134 of the first series of his influential collection, Psalter und Harfe, in 1833. The original composition was titled "Heimweh" (Homesickness) and was structurally organized into 6 stanzas of 4 lines each.

Translations in Common Use

The text gained widespread popularity in English-speaking nations through a primary translation by Sarah Findlater, alongside several American adaptions:

Findlater's translation, "Ah! this heart is void and chill," was published in the second series of Hymns from the Land of Luther in 1855. She omitted the fifth stanza of Spitta's original text. This version appeared on page 110 of the 1862 collective edition and on page 86 of the 1884 edition.

A slightly altered arrangement of this translation, which also omitted the second stanza, was adopted by American Lutherans as entry Number 455 in the Pennsylvania Lutheran Church Book of 1868.

A distinct American musical adaptation appeared in William B. Bradbury's Sunday school collection, Golden Shower, published in New York in 1860. In this edition, the translations for the second and sixth stanzas were entirely rewritten, and an evangelical chorus was appended to the structure.

A selection of three stanzas from Bradbury's arrangement (stanzas 1, 2, and 4) including the chorus achieved broad denominational usage. It was compiled as entry Number 1279 in Charles Seymour Robinson's Songs for the Sanctuary (1865) and as entry Number 1048 in the Baptist Praise Book (1871).

Alternative Translations

Two additional full translations were published by British writers during the mid-nineteenth century, though they did not achieve the same level of liturgical adoption:

The first alternative rendering, "Hungering, thirsting as we go," was translated by Caroline Fry and published on page 17 of her 1859 collection.

The second alternative version, "Ah! how empty is the heart," was executed by Richard Massie for his specialized translation volume, Lyra Domestica, published on page 132 in 1860.