"Our Father, Thou in Heaven Above"

                    by Martin Luther, 1483-1546

                               Text From:

                       THE LUTHERAN HYMNAL

        (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1941)







        1. Our Father, Thou in heaven above,

        Who biddest us to dwell in love,

        As brethren of one family,

        To cry in every need to Thee,

        Teach us no thoughtless word to say,

        But from our inmost heart to pray.



        2. Thy name be hallowed. Help us, Lord,

        In purity to keep Thy Word,

        That to the glory of thy name

        We walk before Thee free from blame.

        Let no false doctrine us pervert;

        All poor, deluded souls convert.



        3. Thy kingdom come. Thine let it be

        In time and in eternity.

        Let Thy good Spirit e'er be nigh

        Our hearts with graces to supply.

        Break Satan's power, defeat his rage;

        Preserve Thy Church from age to age.



        4. Thy gracious will on earth be done

        As 'tis in heaven before Thy throne;

        Obedience in our weal and woe

        And patience in all grief bestow.

        Curb flesh and blood and every ill

        That sets itself against Thy will.



        5. Give us this day our daily bread

        And let us all be clothed and fed.

        From war and strife be our Defense,

        From famine and from pestilence,

        That we may live in godly peace,

        Free from all care and avarice.



        6. Forgive our sins, Lord, we implore,

        Remove from us their burden sore,

        As we their trespasses forgive

        Who by offenses us do grieve.

        Thus let us dwell in charity

        And serve our brother willingly.



        7. Into temptation lead us not.

        When evil foes against us plot

        And vex our souls on every hand,

        Oh, give us strength that we may stand

        Firm in the faith, a well-armed host,

        Through comfort of the Holy Ghost!



        8. From evil, Lord, deliver us;

        The times and days are perilous.

        Redeem us from eternal death,

        And when we yield our dying breath,

        Console us, grant us calm release,

        And take our souls to Thee in peace.



        9. Amen, that is, So shall it be.

        Confirm our faith and hope in Thee

        That we may doubt not, but believe

        What here we ask we shall receive.

        Thus in Thy name and at Thy word

        We say: Amen. Oh, hear us, Lord! Amen.



        


        Notes:

        Hymn 458 from _The Lutheran Hymnal_

        Text: Matt. 6:9 ff.

        Author: Martin Luther

        Translated by: composite

        Titled: "Vater unser im Himmelreich"

        Tune: "Vater unser"

        1st Published in: _Geistliche Lieder_

        Town: Leipzig, 1539