Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (18331908). An American Anthology, 17871900. 1900. |
|
321. Paraphrase of Luthers Hymn |
| By Frederic Henry Hedge |
|
|
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 | 5 |
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, | 10 |
Our striving would be losing, | |
Were not the right man on our side, | |
The man of Gods own choosing. | |
Dost ask who that may be? | |
Christ Jesus, it is he, | 15 |
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, | 20 |
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, | 25 |
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 | 30 |
Through Him who with us sideth. | |
Let goods and kindred go, | |
This mortal life also; | |
The body they may kill, | |
Gods truth abideth still, | 35 |
His Kingdom is forever. | |
|
|
|
|