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The Battle Hymn of the Reformation: "A Mighty Fortress"
EIN' FESTE BURG IST UNSER GOTT Ein’ feste Burg ist unser Gott, Ein gute Wehr und Waffen; Er hilft uns frei aus aller Not, Die uns jetzt hat betroffen. Der alt’ böse Feind, Mit Ernst er’s jetzt meint, Gross’ Macht und viel List Sein’ grausam’ Ruestung ist, Auf Erd’ ist nicht seingleichen. Mit unsrer Macht is nichts getan, Wir sind gar bald verloren; Es steit’t für uns der rechte Mann, Den Gott hat selbst erkoren. Fragst du, wer der ist? Er heisst Jesu Christ, Der Herr Zebaoth, Und ist kein andrer Gott, Das Feld muss er behalten. Und wenn die Welt voll Teufel wär’ Und wollt’ uns gar verschlingen, So fürchten wir uns nicht so sehr, Es soll uns doch gelingen. Der Fürst dieser Welt, Wie sau’r er sich stellt, Tut er uns doch nicht, Das macht, er ist gericht’t, Ein Wörtlein kann ihn fällen. Das Wort sie sollen lassen stahn Und kein’n Dank dazu haben; Er ist bei uns wohl auf dem Plan Mit seinem Geist und Gaben. Nehmen sie den Leib, Gut, Ehr’, Kind und Weib: Lass fahren dahin, Sie haben’s kein’n Gewinn, Das Reich muss uns doch bleiben. —Martin Luther (1483-1546), 1529 http://www.cyberhymnal.org/non/nonenglish.htm GOD IS A STRONGHOLD AND A TOWER God is a Stronghold and a Tower, A Help that never faileth, A covering Shield, a Sword of power, When Satan’s host assaileth. In vain our crafty foe Still strives to work us woe, Still lurks and lies in wait With more than earthly hate; We will not faint, nor tremble. Frail sinners are we: naught remains For hope or consolation, Save in His strength Whom God ordains Our Captain of salvation. Yes, Jesus Christ alone The Lord of hosts we own, God ere the world began, The Word-made-flesh for man, Still conquering, and to conquer. Though fiercely strive the hosts of ill Within us, and around us, With fiendish strength, and fiendish skill, Yet ne’er may they confound us. Man’s night of dark despair, When storm clouds fill the air, In God’s triumphal hour, The noonday of His power, One word, and He prevaileth. Our Father’s truth abideth sure; Christ, our Redeemer, liveth; For us He pleads His offering pure, To us His Spirit giveth. Though dear ones pass away, Though strength and life decay, Yet loss shall be our gain, For God doth still remain Our All-in-all forever. -- Martin Luther (1483-1546), 1529 English Translation: Elizabeth Wordsworth, 1891 www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/g/i/s/gistower.htm A MIGHTY FORTRESS IS OUR GOD A mighty fortress is our God, A bulwark never failing; Our helper He, amid the flood Of mortal ills prevailing: For still our ancient foe Doth seek to work us woe; His craft and power are great, And, armed with cruel hate, On earth is not his equal. Did we in our own strength confide, Our striving would be losing; Were not the right Man on our side, The Man of God’s own choosing: Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He; Lord Sabaoth, His Name, From age to age the same, And He must win the battle. And though this world, with devils filled, Should threaten to undo us, We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us: The Prince of Darkness grim, We tremble not for him; His rage we can endure, For lo, his doom is sure, One little word shall fell him. That word above all earthly powers, No thanks to them, abideth; The Spirit and the gifts are ours Through Him Who with us sideth: Let goods and kindred go, This mortal life also; The body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still, His kingdom is forever. -- Martin Luther (1483-1546), 1529 English Translation: Frederic H. Hedge (1805-1890), 1853 www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/m/i/mightyfo.htm Have a great week! Chip Stam Director, Institute for Christian Worship School of Church Music and Worship The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Louisville, Kentucky www.wqotw.org www.sbts.edu/icw =========================== WORSHIP QUOTE OF THE WEEK: To subscribe, unsubscribe, or view a complete index of worship quotes, please visit http://www.wqotw.org =========================== |