Scripture Verse

I am the Lord thy God…Thou shalt have no other gods before Me. Exodus 20:2–3

Introduction

portrait
Martin Luther (1483–1546)
Lucas Cranach the Elder, 1529

Words: Mar­tin Lu­ther, 1524 (Dies sind die heil’gen zehn Ge­bot’). Trans­lat­ed from Ger­man to Eng­lish by Ri­chard Mass­ie, 1854, alt.

Music: Dies sind die Heil’gen Ger­man tune, cir­ca 1200 (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pic­ture of Mas­sie (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

That man a godly life might live,
God did these Ten Commandments give
By His true servant Moses, high
Upon the Mount Sinai.
Have mercy, Lord!

I am thy God and Lord alone,
No other God before Me own;
Put thy whole confidence in Me
And love Me e’er cordially.
Have mercy, Lord!

By idle word and speech profane
Take not My holy name in vain
And praise but that as good and true
Which I Myself say and do.
Have mercy, Lord!

Hallow the day which God hath blest
That thou and all thy house may rest;
Keep hand and heart from labor free
That God may so work in thee.
Have mercy, Lord!

Give to thy parents honor due,
Be dutiful, and loving, too,
And help them when their strength decays,
So shalt thou have length of days.
Have mercy, Lord!

Kill thou not out of evil will,
Nor hate, nor render ill for ill;
Be patient and of gentle mood,
And to thy foe do thou good.
Have mercy, Lord.

Be faithful to thy marriage vows,
Thy heart give only to thy spouse;
Thy life keep pure, and lest thou sin,
Use temperance and discipline.
Have mercy, Lord!

Steal not; oppressive acts abhor;
Nor wring their life blood from the poor;
But open wide thy loving hand
To all the poor in the land.
Have mercy, Lord.

Bear not false witness nor belie
Thy neighbor by foul calumny.
Defend his innocence from blame;
With charity hide his shame.
Have mercy, Lord!

Thy neighbor’s house desire thou not,
His wife, nor aught that he hath got,
But wish that his such good may be
As thy heart doth wish for thee.
Have mercy, Lord!

God these commandments gave therein
To show thee, child of man, thy sin
And make thee also well perceive
How man unto God should live.
Have mercy, Lord!

Help us, Lord Je­sus Christ, for we
A mediator have in Thee.
Our works cannot sal­va­tion gain;
They merit but endless pain.
Have mercy, Lord!