These Are the Holy Ten Commands

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These are the holy Ten Commands God gave to us by Moses' hands

Author: Martin Luther; Translator (st. 1): Joseph Herl; Translator (sts. 3, 10): F. Samuel Janzow; Translator (st. 5): Michael A. Penikis
Tune: [In Gottes Namen fahren wir] (55555)
Published in 2 hymnals

Representative Text

(Stanzas 1-5 copyrighted)

6 "You shall not murder, hurt, nor hate;
Your anger dare not dominate.
Be kind and patient; help, defend,
And treat your foe as your friend."
Have mercy, Lord!

(Stanza 7 copyrighted)

8 "You shall not steal or take away
What others worked for night and day,
But open wide a gen'rous hand
And help the poor in the land."
Have mercy, Lord!

9 "Bear no false witness nor defame
Your neighbor nor destroy his name,
But view him in the kindest way;
Speak truth in all that you say."
Have mercy, Lord!

10 "You shall not crave your neighbor's house
Nor covet money, goods, or spouse,
Pray God He would your neighbor bless
As you yourself wish success."
Have mercy, Lord!

(Stanza 11 copyrighted)

12 Our works cannot salvation gain;
They merit only endless pain,
Forgive us, Lord! To Christ, we flee,
Who pleads for us endlessly.
Have mercy, Lord!

Source: Lutheran Service Book #581

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Author: Martin Luther

Luther, Martin, born at Eisleben, Nov. 10, 1483; entered the University of Erfurt, 1501 (B.A. 1502, M.A.. 1503); became an Augustinian monk, 1505; ordained priest, 1507; appointed Professor at the University of Wittenberg, 1508, and in 1512 D.D.; published his 95 Theses, 1517; and burnt the Papal Bull which had condemned them, 1520; attended the Diet of Worms, 1521; translated the Bible into German, 1521-34; and died at Eisleben, Feb. 18, 1546. The details of his life and of his work as a reformer are accessible to English readers in a great variety of forms. Luther had a huge influence on German hymnody. i. Hymn Books. 1. Ellich cristlich lider Lobgesang un Psalm. Wittenberg, 1524. [Hamburg Library.] This contains 8 German h… Go to person page >

Translator (st. 1): Joseph Herl

HERL, JOSEPH, AAGO, ChM (b. 1959): B.A. (Music), Concordia College, New York; M.Mus. (Organ), North Texas State University; Ph.D. (Musicology), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; Professor of Music at Concordia University, Seward, Nebraska and organist of Redeemer Lutheran Church, Lincoln, Nebraska. Author of Worship Wars in Early Lutheranism (Oxford University Press, 2004); choral and organ music published by Oxford, Concordia, and MorningStar. Joseph Herl (from In Melody and Song, Darcey Press, 2014 Go to person page >

Translator (sts. 3, 10): F. Samuel Janzow

F. Samuel Janzow was Professor of English at Concordia University Chicago from 1954 to 1980. NNM Go to person page >

Translator (st. 5): Michael A. Penikis

(no biographical information available about Michael A. Penikis.) Go to person page >

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First Line:	These are the holy Ten Commands God gave to us by Moses' hands
Title:	These Are the Holy Ten Commands
German Title:	Dies sind die heil'gen Zehn Gebot
Author:	Martin Luther
Translator (st. 1):	Joseph Herl
Translator (sts. 3, 10):	F. Samuel Janzow
Translator (st. 5):	Michael A. Penikis
Meter:	8.8.8.7.4
Source:	Tr. sts. 4, 6-9, 11-13: Christian Worship, 1993
Language:	English
Copyright:	Tr. sts 3, 10 © 1980 Concordia Publishing House; Tr. sts. 1, 5 © 2006 Concordia Publishing House