A Mighty Fortress Is Our God
Luther's battle hymn of the Reformation, a paraphrase of Psalm 46.
Download PDFLuther's battle hymn of the Reformation, a paraphrase of Psalm 46. Written by Martin Luther (1529), set to the tune "Ein' feste Burg" by Martin Luther.
Suggested pairing scripture
Psalm 46:1
"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."
Read Psalm 46:1 (KJV) aloud as a call to worship before the congregation sings "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God." It anchors the hymn in the Word from which it flows.
Read in contextWhen to sing this
Sing at funerals, memorial services, hospital visits, and any time the congregation needs the consolation of God's presence.
Lyrics
Stanza 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 power are great, And, armed with cruel hate, On earth is not his equal.
Stanza 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.
Stanza 3
And though this world, with devils filled, Should threaten to undo us, 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, For lo, his doom is sure, One little word shall fell him.
Stanza 4
That word above all earthly powers, No thanks to them, abideth; The Spirit and the gifts are ours Through 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.
History & Background
Luther wrote both text and tune around 1527-1529 during a season of plague and persecution. It became the rallying anthem of the Protestant Reformation and is sometimes called 'the Battle Hymn of the Reformation'.
Scripture Behind the Hymn
Frequently Asked Questions
What psalm is A Mighty Fortress based on?
Luther based the entire hymn on Psalm 46, paraphrasing its themes of God as refuge and strength against every enemy.
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Where to go next
Enjoyed "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God"? These pages pair well with it for worship planning.
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