A Mighty Fortress Is Our God
Words: Martin Luther, 1529; tr. Frederick H. Hedge, 1852 · Tune "Ein Feste Burg": Martin Luther, 1529 · Public domain
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Verse 1
GA mighty Dfor-Bmtress Emis Aour DGod,
Ema Bmbul-Cwark Gnev-Emer Amfail-Ging;
Gour helper Dhe, Bma-Emmid Amthe Dflood
Emof Bmmor-Ctal Gills Empre-Amvail-Ging.
GFor still Emour Dan-Acient Dfoe
Emdoth Dseek Gto Cwork F#dimus Emwoe;
Bmhis Emcraft Dand G6pow'r Aare Dgreat,
Amand Carmed Gwith Ecru-Amel Bhate,
Emon Bmearth Cis Gnot Emhis Ame-Gqual.
Verse 2
GDid we in Dour Bmown Emstrength Acon-Dfide,
Emour Bmstriv-Cing Gwould Embe Amlos-Ging;
Gwere not the Dright BmMan Emon Amour Dside,
Emthe BmMan Cof GGod's Emown Amchoos-Ging.
GDost ask Emwho Dthat Amay Dbe?
EmChrist DJe-Gsus, Cit F#dimis Emhe;
BmLord EmSab-Da-G6oth, Ahis Dname,
Amfrom Cage Gto Eage Amthe Bsame,
Emand Bmhe Cmust Gwin Emthe Ambat-Gtle.
Verse 3
GAnd though this Dworld, Bmwith Emdev-Ails Dfilled,
Emshould Bmthreat-Cen Gto Emun-Amdo Gus,
Gwe will not Dfear, Bmfor EmGod Amhath Dwilled
Emhis Bmtruth Cto Gtri-Emumph Amthrough Gus.
GThe Prince Emof DDark-Aness Dgrim,
Emwe Dtrem-Gble Cnot F#dimfor Emhim;
Bmhis Emrage Dwe G6can Aen-Ddure,
Amfor Clo, Ghis Edoom Amis Bsure;
Emone Bmlit-Ctle Gword Emshall Amfell Ghim.
Verse 4
GThat word a-Dbove Bmall Emearth-Aly Dpow'rs,
Emno Bmthanks Cto Gthem, Ema-Ambid-Geth;
Gthe Spirit Dand Bmthe Emgifts Amare Dours
Emthrough Bmhim Cwho Gwith Emus Amsid-Geth.
GLet goods Emand Dkin-Adred Dgo,
Emthis Dmor-Gtal Clife F#dimal-Emso;
Bmthe Embod-Dy G6they Amay Dkill:
AmGod's Ctruth Ga-Ebid-Ameth Bstill,
Emhis Bmking-Cdom Gis Emfor-Amev-Ger.
Chords in the key of G
- G
- D
- Bm
- Em
- A
- C
- Am
- F#dim
- G6
- E
- B
About this hymn
- Words
- Martin Luther, German text 1529, translated by Frederic Henry Hedge, 1852
- Music
- EIN FESTE BURG, Martin Luther, 1529
- Meter
- 8.7.8.7.6.6.6.6.7
- In
- 758 hymnals
- Scripture
- Psalm 46, Isaiah 26:4, 1 Peter 5:6-11
The story
Martin Luther wrote the words and the tune both. He worked from Psalm 46, not word for word but loose, and he headed the early printings with just that psalm number. The dates are fuzzy. Hymnary says 1529. Others put the writing somewhere between 1527 and 1529, since no copy of the first printing survives. The oldest one we still have is a hymnal from 1531. The English most of us sing comes from Frederic Henry Hedge in the early 1850s. One more thing worth knowing at the bench. Luther's melody was syncopated and jumpy at the start. The even, squared off version we play now came later.
Where it fits in a service
Often used as an opening hymn, on Reformation Sunday, and in services about trouble and God's protection. It carries well with a full congregation and a strong left hand.
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This hymn in three keys, and 49 more
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