A mighty fortress is our God - Martin Luther (1a & 2a), alt. text Arvella Schuller (1b & 2b)

Translated into ASL by David Bar-Tzur

Created 9 October 2006, links updated monthly with the help of LinkAlarm.

EXPLANATION OF THE GLOSSING SYSTEM
(to understand how I describe the signs in this translation).

1a. OUR GOD IDEA~LIKE FORTRESS MIGHTY. HIS-rt,hi FOUNDATION COLLAPSE NEVER. SOMETIMES TROUBLE INCREASE LIKE FLOOD. HAPPEN LIFE OVERWHELM, HE-rt,hi HELP-us US. STILL DEVIL, OUR ANCIENT ENEMY, TRY MAKE OUR LIFE SCREWED-UP. HIS-ctr,lo CRAFTINESS AND POWER STRONG. HE-ctr,lo HATE US AND HE-ctr,lo MEAN. HERE EARTH NONE OTHERS EQUAL.

2a. IF WE DEPEND OURSELVES CONQUER HIM-ctr,lo, OUR FIGHT WIN, IMPOSSIBLE. GOOD THING WE HAVE OUR SAVIOR SUPPORT. THAT-ONE-lf,hi GOD CHOOSE HIMSELF-rt,hi. (2h)YOU ASK ME SAVIOR NAME? CHRIST JESUS, ME MEAN THAT. LORD CONTROL ANGEL LIKE ARMY. ALL-ALONG HE-lf CHANGE NEVER. HE-lf WIN OUR BATTLE MUST.

1b. OUR GOD IDEA~LIKE FORTRESS MIGHTY. SUPPORT+ US AND PROTECT+ US. HE-rt OUR HOPE, OUR FRIEND, OUR GUIDE. HE-rt alt.GIFT-TO"each" SALVATION. ONLY* OUR GOD LORD. HE-rt MAKE WORLD HIS-rt #OWN. HE-rt COMMAND, WIND OBEY. HE-rt RULE, END NEVER. HIS-rt TRUTH CONTINUE FOREVER.

2b. OUR GOD MIGHTY FOREVER. GOD RULE EVERYTHING HE-rt MAKE. IF HAVE CLOUD, SUNSHINE THROUGH CAN. EARTH DEEP FOUNDATION, HE-rt SET-UP. CELEBRATE AND PRAISE HIS-rt NAME. HIS-rt alt.GIFT"each" CONTINUE STILL. HIS-rt HANDS GUIDE US STRONG. HIS-rt JUSTICE UPRIGHT, NEVER FOLD. TRUST HIS-rt PROMISE FOREVER.


Notes:

IDEA~LIKE - a blending where IDEA has a [Y] instead of an [I] in anticipation of LIKE which is signed smoothly right afterwards.

FORTRESS - (2h)[S], POs down, FOs ><, strike the whole length of the forearms together like TABLE then DH is held under NDH and the arms strike again.

MIGHTY - (2h)[S], POs > back of signer, FOs up, are held at NDS and fists descend, then repeat at DS.

FOUNDATION - NDH [S], PO > signer, FO > DS, is held out with arm parallel to the chest and DH [S], PO > signer, strikes hand from below and then strikes elbow from below.

COLLAPSE - (2h)[5:], POs ><, interlace fingers and then bring knuckles downwards.

ANCIENT - OLD but hand descends in a wavy pattern as if the beard is very long.

SCREWED-UP - (2h)[5:], FOs away, DH is held high, PO down at its side and NDH is held low, PO up at its side. Both hands interchange PO and levels while moving slightly > DS.

CRAFTINESS - (2h)[O^] are held at end of mouth and arc downwards while changing to (2h)[A], as if twirling a handlebar moustache the way villains did in silent movies.

CONQUER - (2h)[S], DPO > NDS, NDPO down, FOs away, are held with DH on top of NDH and DH strikes NDH wrist on dorsal side (from above) and nods while staying at wrist.

SAVIOR - SAVE AGENT.

THAT-ONE - THAT ends with the index finger pointing.

(2h)YOU - Underlined words are honorific indices ("indexes"), using the FT of the upturned palm to indicate who is being honored.

alt.GIFT-TO"each" - (2h)[X], POs ><, FOs > the recipents, hands move together from NDS to DS.

SALVATION - SAVE.

CLOUD - Like CLASS, but FTs flutter.

JUSTICE - (2h)[B^], POs ><, FOs up, tap FT while moving in a horizontal circle.

UPRIGHT - Elbow of [S], PO > NDS, FO up, is struck against the fingers of NDH [B] held like part of TABLE.

FOLD - Elbow of [S], PO > NDS, FO up, is held against the dorsal side (back hand) of NDH [B] held like part of TABLE, and the DH swivels down with the elbow held in place.

Lyrics:

1a. A mighty fortress is our God: A bulwark never failing.
Our helper he amid the flood Of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe Doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great, And armed with cruel hate.
On earth is not his equal.

2a. Did we in our own strength confide, Our striving would be losing.
Were not the Savior on our side: The man of God's own chosing.
Dost ask who that might be? Christ Jesus, it is he.
Lord Sabaoth, his name, From age to age the same,
And he must win the battle.

1b. A mighty fortress is our God, Our stronghold and protection.
He is our hope, our friend, our guide, The giver of salvation.
Our Lord is God alone. He made the world his own.
He speaks and winds obey. He rules 'til endless day.
His truth abides forever.

2b. Great and eternal is our God: The god of all creation.
He made the sun to shine through cloud. He formed earth's deep foundation.
Rejoice and praise his name. His goodness will remain.
With strong and guiding hand, Firm shall his justice stand.
His promise is eternal.

treble clef as a symbol for musicTo hear the music (without words), go to A mighty fortress is our God.

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