Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry.
Volume IV. The Higher Life. 1904. | | | | I. The Divine Element—(God, Christ, the Holy Spirit) | | “A mighty fortress is our God” | | Martin Luther (1483–1546) |
| | From the German by Frederic Henry Hedge
“Ein’ Feste Burg Ist Unser Gott” |
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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 equal hate, | |
| On earth is not his equal. | |
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| Did we in our own strength confide, | 10 |
| 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, | 15 |
| Lord Sabaoth his name, | |
| From age to age the same, | |
| And he must win the battle. | | | |
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