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.
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. ......