Thomas Carlyle's translation of
Martin Luther's
hymn Ein' Feste Burg. The hymn is also rendered in
English as
A Mighty Fortress is Our God, and in
Swedish as
Vår Gud är oss en väldig borg.
A safe stronghold our God is still,
A trusty shield and weapon;
He?ll help 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.
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.
And were this world all devils o?er,
And watching to devour us,
We lay it not to heart so sore;
Not they can 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.
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!
Everything Hymnal