Reprise: A Safe Stronghold Our God is Still

We have a reprise video this week, with a bit of a twist. This was originally recorded in November of 2020, and includes the hymns A Mighty Fortress, Now Thank We All Our God, and O God Our Help in Ages Past. I chose this video because it includes A Mighty Fortress.

Earlier in the week an Australian friend introduced me to a different English translation (1831) of this German hymn written by Martin Luther. The translator was Thomas Carlyle and the title is A Safe Stronghold Our God is Still.

The lyrics of this translation are below the video. I hope you will be blessed by them.

These are the lyrics to this translation, courtesy of Hymnary.org

1 A safe stronghold our God is still,
a trusty shield and weapon;
he’ll keep us clear from all the ill
that hath us now o’ertaken.
The ancient prince of hell
hath risen with purpose fell;
strong mail of craft and power
he weareth in this hour;
on earth is not his fellow.

2 With force of arms we nothing can,
full soon were we down-ridden;
but for us fights the proper Man
whom God himself hath 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.

3 And were this world all devils o’er,
and watching to devour us,
we lay it not to heart so sore;
they cannot 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.

4 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.