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Front Page arrow Titles (by Subject) arrow A Preface to All Good Hymn-Books. By Dr. Martin Luther. From Joseph Klug's Hymn-Book, Wittenberg, 1543. - The Hymns of Martin Luther

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Subject Area: Music
Subject Area: Religion

A Preface to All Good Hymn-Books. By Dr. Martin Luther. From Joseph Klug’s Hymn-Book, Wittenberg, 1543. - Martin Luther, The Hymns of Martin Luther [1884]

Edition used:

Dr. Martin Luther’s Deutsche Geistliche Lieder. The Hymns of Martin Luther set to their original Melodies with an English version, ed. Leonard Woolsey Bacon and Nathan H. Allen (London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1884).

About Liberty Fund:

Liberty Fund, Inc. is a private, educational foundation established to encourage the study of the ideal of a society of free and responsible individuals.


A Preface to All Good Hymn-Books.
By Dr. Martin Luther. From Joseph Klug’s Hymn-Book, Wittenberg, 1543.

    • Lady Musick Speaketh.
    • Of all the joys that are on earth
    • Is none more dear nor higher worth,
    • Than what in my sweet songs is found
    • And instruments of various sound.
    • Where friends and comrades sing in tune,
    • All evil passions vanish soon;
    • Hate, anger, envy, cannot stay,
    • All gloom and heartache melt away;
    • The lust of wealth, the cares that cling,
    • Are all forgotten while we sing.
    • Freely we take our joy herein,
    • For this sweet pleasure is no sin,
    • But pleaseth God far more, we know,
    • Than any joys the world can show;
    • The Devil’s work it doth impede,
    • And hinders many a deadly deed.
    • Se fared it with King Saul of old;
    • When David struck his harp of gold,
    • So sweet and clear its tones rang out,
    • Saul’s murderous thoughts were put to rout.
    • The heart grows still when I am heard,
    • And opens to God’s Truth and Word;
    • So are we by Elisha taught,
    • Who on the harp the Spirit sought.
    • The best time of the year is mine,
    • When all the little birds combine
    • To sing until the earth and air
    • Are filled with sweet sounds everywhere;
    • And most the tender nightingale
    • Makes joyful every wood and dale,
    • Singing her love-song o’er and o’er,
    • For which we thank her evermore.
    • But yet more thanks are due from us
    • To the dear Lord who made her thus,
    • A singer apt to touch the heart,
    • Mistress of all my dearest art.
    • To God she sings by night and day,
    • Unwearied, praising Him alway;
    • Him I, too, laud in every song,
    • To whom all thanks and praise belong.
    • Translation byCatharine Winkworth.