Song Lyrics

Cathedral Hymns

A Mighty Fortress Is Our God

Frederic Henry Hedge, 1853

Catherine Winkworth, 1829-1878

Unknown

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.

1. A mighty fortress is our God, a trusty shield and weapon;
He helps us free from every need that hath us now o'ertaken.
The old evil foe now means deadly woe; deep guile and great might
Are his dread arms in fight; on Earth is not his equal.

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 evil foe,
Sworn to work us woe,
With dread craft and might
He arms himself to fight.
On Earth he has no equal.

Alternate translation:

1. A mighty fortress is our God, a tower of strength ne'er failing.
A helper mighty is our God, o'er ills of life prevailing.
He overcometh all. He saveth from the fall.
His might and power are great. He all things did create.
And he shall reign forevermore.

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.

2. With might of ours can naught be done, soon were our loss effected;
But for us fights the Valiant One, Whom God Himself elected.
Ask ye, Who is this? Jesus Christ it is.
Of Sabbath Lord, and there’s none other God;
He holds the field forever.

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.
Ask who this may be:
Lord of Hosts is he!
Jesus Christ our Lord,
God's only son, adored.
He holds the field victorious.

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.

3. Though devils all the world should fill, all eager to devour us.
We tremble not, we fear no ill, they shall not overpower us.
This world’s prince may still scowl fierce as he will,
He can harm us none, he’s judged; the deed is done;
One little word can fell him.

3. Though hordes of devils fill the land
All threat'ning to devour us,
We tremble not, unmoved we stand;
They cannot overpow'r us.
This world's prince may rage,
In fierce war engage.
He is doomed to fail;
God's judgement must prevail!
One little word subdues him.

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.

4. The Word they still shall let remain nor any thanks have for it;
He’s by our side upon the plain with His good gifts and Spirit.
And take they our life, goods, fame, child and wife,
Let these all be gone, they yet have nothing won;
The Kingdom ours remaineth.

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.
If they take our house,
Goods, fame, child or spouse,
Wrench our life away,
They cannot win the day.
The Kingdom's ours forever!

Scripture: Psalm 46
Words & Music: Martin Luther, 1529, Germany
Translated from German to English by: Frederic Henry Hedge, 1853 and Catherine Winkworth, 1829-1878
It was first translated into English by Myles Coverdale in 1539 with the title 'Oure God is a defence and towre'.
The first English translation in "common usage" was 'God is our Refuge in Distress, Our strong Defence' in J.C. Jacobi's Psal. Ger., 1722, p. 83.

This song has been called “the greatest hymn of the greatest man of the greatest period of German history” and the “Battle Hymn of the Reformation.”

Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring

1. Jesu, joy of man’s desiring, holy wisdom, love most bright;
Drawn by Thee, our souls aspiring soar to uncreated light.
Word of God, our flesh that fashioned, with the fire of life impassioned,
Striving still to truth unknown, soaring, dying round Thy throne.

2. Through the way where hope is guiding, hark, what peaceful music rings;
Where the flock, in Thee confiding, drink of joy from deathless springs.
Theirs is beauty’s fairest pleasure; theirs is wisdom’s holiest treasure.
Thou dost ever lead Thine own in the love of joys unknown.

Words: Martin Janus, 1661, "Jesus bleibet meine Freude"
Translated from German to English: Probably by Robert S. Bridges (1844-1930)
Music: Johann Schop (1590-1664); arranged by Johann S. Bach for the chorus closing his Cantata 147, 1723

Now Thank We All Our God

1. Now thank we all our God, with heart and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things has done, in Whom this world rejoices;
Who from our mothers’ arms has blessed us on our way
With countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.

2. O may this bounteous God through all our life be near us,
With ever joyful hearts and blessèd peace to cheer us;
And keep us in His grace, and guide us when perplexed;
And free us from all ills, in this world and the next!

3. All praise and thanks to God the Father now be given;
The Son and Him Who reigns with Them in highest Heaven;
The one eternal God, Whom earth and Heaven adore;
For thus it was, is now, and shall be evermore.

Words: Martin Rinkart, ca. 1636 (Nun danket alle Gott);
first appeared in Berlin, Germany: 1647
translated from German to English by Catherine Winkworth, 1856

Music: Nun Danket, attributed to Johann Crüger, 1647
harmony by Felix Mendelssohn, 1840

O Power Of Love
(Missing)

1. O power of love, all else transcending in Jesus present evermore,
I worship Thee, in homage bending Thy name to honor and adore;
Yea, let my soul, in deep devotion, bathe in love's mighty boundless ocean.

2. Thou art my rest, no earthly treasure can satisfy my yearning heart,
And naught can give to me the pleasure I find in Thee, my chosen part,
Thy love, so tender, so possessing, I joy to me, and every blessing.

3. To Thee my heart and life be given, Thou art in truth my highest good;
For me Thy sacred side was riven, for me was shed Thy precious blood.
O Thou who art the world's salvation, be thine my love and adoration.

Words: Gerhard Tersteegen, 1729, "Ich bete an die Macht der Liebe"
Music: Dmytro Bortnjanskyj, 1822
Translated from German to English by: Unknown

O Sacred Head, Now Wounded

1. O sacred Head, now wounded, with grief and shame weighed down,
Now scornfully surrounded with thorns, Thine only crown;
How pale Thou art with anguish, with sore abuse and scorn!
How does that visage languish, which once was bright as morn!

2. What Thou, my Lord, hast suffered, was all for sinners’ gain;
Mine, mine was the transgression, but Thine the deadly pain.
Lo, here I fall, my Savior! ’Tis I deserve Thy place;
Look on me with Thy favor, vouchsafe to me Thy grace.

3. Men mock and taunt and jeer Thee, Thou noble countenance,
Though mighty worlds shall fear Thee and flee before Thy glance.
How art thou pale with anguish, with sore abuse and scorn!
How doth Thy visage languish that once was bright as morn!

4. Now from Thy cheeks has vanished their color once so fair;
From Thy red lips is banished the splendor that was there.
Grim death, with cruel rigor, hath robbed Thee of Thy life;
Thus Thou hast lost Thy vigor, Thy strength in this sad strife.

5. My burden in Thy Passion, Lord, Thou hast borne for me,
For it was my transgression which brought this woe on Thee.
I cast me down before Thee, wrath were my rightful lot;
Have mercy, I implore Thee; Redeemer, spurn me not!

6. What language shall I borrow to thank Thee, dearest friend,
For this Thy dying sorrow, Thy pity without end?
O make me Thine forever, and should I fainting be,
Lord, let me never, never outlive my love to Thee.

7. My Shepherd, now receive me; my Guardian, own me Thine.
Great blessings Thou didst give me, O source of gifts divine.
Thy lips have often fed me with words of truth and love;
Thy Spirit oft hath led me to heavenly joys above.

8. Here I will stand beside Thee, from Thee I will not part;
O Savior, do not chide me! When breaks Thy loving heart,
When soul and body languish in death’s cold, cruel grasp,
Then, in Thy deepest anguish, Thee in mine arms I’ll clasp.

9. The joy can never be spoken, above all joys beside,
When in Thy body broken I thus with safety hide.
O Lord of Life, desiring Thy glory now to see,
Beside Thy cross expiring, I’d breathe my soul to Thee.

10. My Savior, be Thou near me when death is at my door;
Then let Thy presence cheer me, forsake me nevermore!
When soul and body languish, oh, leave me not alone,
But take away mine anguish by virtue of Thine own!

11. Be Thou my consolation, my shield when I must die;
Remind me of Thy passion when my last hour draws nigh.
Mine eyes shall then behold Thee, upon Thy cross shall dwell,
My heart by faith enfolds Thee. Who dieth thus dies well.

Scripture: Matthew 27:28-29
Words: Attributed to Bernard of Clairvaux, 1153 (Salve caput cruentatum);
Translated from Latin to English James W. Alexander, 1830
Music: Passion Chorale, Hans L. Hassler, "Lustgarten neuer teutscher Gesänge", 1601; harmony by Johann S. Bach, 1729

Praise To The Lord, The Almighty

1. Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!
O my soul, praise Him, for He is Thy Health and Salvation!
Join the full throng: Wake, harp and psalter and song;
Sound forth in glad adoration!

2. Praise to the Lord, who o'er all things so wondrously reigneth,
Who, as on wings of an eagle, uplifteth, sustaineth.
Hast thou not seen how thy desires all have been
Granted in what He ordaineth?

3. Praise to the Lord, who hath fearfully, wondrously, made thee;
Health hath vouchsafed and, when heedlessly falling, hath stayed thee.
What need or grief ever hath failed of relief?
Wings of His mercy did shade thee.

4. Praise to the Lord, who doth prosper thy work and defend thee,
Who from the heavens the streams of His mercy doth send thee.
Ponder anew what the Almighty can do,
Who with His love doth befriend thee.

5. Praise to the Lord! Oh, let all that is in me adore Him!
All that hath life and breath, come now with praises before Him!
Let the Amen sound from His people again;
Gladly for aye we adore Him.

Scripture: Nehemia 9:6
Words & Music: Joachim Neander, 1679, "Lobe den Herren, den maechtigen"
Translated from German to English by: Catherine Winkworth, 1863

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