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.

With force of arms we nothing can,

full soon were we down ridden;

but for us fights the proper Man

whom God Himself has bidden.

Ask ye: Who is this same?

Christ Jesus is His name,

the Lord Sabaoth‟s Son;

He, and no other one,

shall conquer in the battle.

And were this world all devils o‟er,

and watching to devour us,

we lay it not to heart so sore;

not they can overpower us.

And let the prince of ill

look grim as e‟er he will,

he harms us not a whit;

for why? His doom is writ;

a word shall quickly slay him.

God‟s word, for all their craft and force,

one moment will not linger,

but, spite of hell, shall have its course;

„tis written by His finger.

And though they take our life,

goods, honour, children, wife,

yet is their profit small;

these things shall vanish all,

the city of God remaineth. ......