1. 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 pow'r are great, And armed with cruel hate, On earth is not His equal. 2. 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. 3. And tho' this world, with devils filled, Should threaten to undo us, We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph thro' 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. 4. That word above all earthly pow'rs, No thanks to them, abideth; The Spirit and the gifts are ours Thro'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.
Lyrics:
Martin Luther
Music:
Martin Luther
Tune: EIN' FESTE BURG
Meter: 8.7.8.7.6.6.6.7.
Words and Music by Martin Luther, 1483–1546
English Translation by Frederick H. Hedge, 1805–1890
“A Mighty Fortress” was written and composed by Martin Luther. The date of the hymn cannot be fixed with any exact certainty. It is generally believed, however, to have been written for the Diet of Spires in 1529 when the term “protestant” was first used. The hymn became the great rallying cry of the Reformation.