"That Man a Godly Life Might Live" by Dr. Martin Luther, 1483-1546 Text From: The Handbook to The Lutheran Hymnal (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1942), p. 208 1. 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! 2. I am thy God and Lord alone, No other God beside Me own; Put thy whole confidence in Me And love Me e'er cordially. Have mercy, Lord! 3. 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! 4. 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! 5. 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! 6. In sinful wrath thou shalt not kill Nor hate nor render ill for ill; Be patient and of gentle mood, And to thy foe do thou good. Have mercy, Lord! 7. 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! 8. Steal not; all usury 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! 9. Bear not false witness nor belie Thy neighbor by foul calumny. Defend his innocence from blame; With charity hide his shame. Have mercy, Lord! 10. 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! 11. 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! 12. 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! ____________________________________________________ Notes: From The Handbook to The Lutheran Hymnal Text: Ex. 20: 1-17 Author: Martin Luther, 1524 Translated by: Richard Massie, 1854, alt. Titled: Dies sind die heil'gen Zehn Gebot' Tune: Dies sind die heil'gen German melody, c. 1200 ________________________________________________________________ This text was converted to ascii format for Project Wittenberg by Cindy A. Beesley and is in the public domain. You may freely distribute, copy or print this text. Please direct any comments or suggestions to: Rev. Robert E. Smith of the Walther Library at Concordia Theological Seminary. E-mail: robert.smith@ctsfw.edu Surface Mail: 6600 N. Clinton St., Ft. Wayne, IN 46825 USA Phone: (260) 452-3149 Fax: (260) 452-2126 ________________________________________________________________