“A Mighty Fortress is Our God”

1 A mighty fortress is our God,
    A sword and shield victorious;
He breaks the cruel oppressor’s rod
    And wins salvation glorious.
The old satanic foe
Has sworn to work us woe.
    With craft and dreadful might
    He arms himself to fight.
On earth he has no equal.

2 No strength of ours can match his might.
    We would be lost, rejected.
But now a champion comes to fight,
    Whom God Himself elected.
You ask who this may be?
The Lord of hosts is He,
    Christ Jesus, mighty Lord,
    God’s only Son, adored.
He holds the field victorious.

4 God’s Word forever shall abide,
    No thanks to foes, who fear it;
For God Himself fights by our side
    With weapons of the Spirit.
Were they to take our house,
Goods, honor, child, or spouse,
    Though life be wrenched away,
    They cannot win the day.
The Kingdom’s ours forever!

Text: tr. Lutheran Book of Worship, 1978
Text and tune: Martin Luther, 1483–1546
Text: © 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110005077
Tune: Public domain

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