God's Word Is Our Great Heritage, is the title of a popular hymn sung in many churches, especially the Lutheran Church. This hymn was inspired by Psalm 16:6: "...yea, I have a goodly heritage." KJV^[1]

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Contents 1 History 2 Text 3 References 4 External links

[edit] History

Written in 1817 by the Lutheran pastor Nikolaj Frederik Severin Grundtvig, this hymn was put to the tune of Martin Luther's Ein Feste Burg. The hymn was translated into English by Ole Gulbrand Belsheim in 1909. In 1916, Friedrich Otto Reuter, then a professor at Dr. Martin Luther College, put the hymn to a tune of his creation. Since then, the hymn has been sung to this tune. God's Word Is Our Great Heritage has appeared in many hymnals including The Lutheran Hymnal (WELS, LCMS) and Christian Worship: A Lutheran Hymnal (WELS). It is also the school hymn of Michigan Lutheran Seminary. Click here to view Michigan Lutheran Seminary's Concert Choir sing this hymn.

[edit] Text

Original Danish: Guds ord det er vort arvegods, det skal vort afkoms være; Gud, giv os i vor grav den ros, vi holdt det højt i ære! Det er vor hjælp i nød, vor trøst i liv og død, o Gud, ihvor det går, lad dog, mens verden står, det i vor æt nedarves!

English: God’s Word is our great heritage And shall be ours forever; To spread its light from age to age Shall be our chief endeavor. Through life it guides our way, In death it is our stay. Lord, grant while worlds endure, We keep its teachings pure Throughout all generations.

[edit] References

• Cyber Hymnal
• Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary Handbook

[edit] External links

• Reuter's tune MIDI
• Ein Feste Burg MIDI
• Michigan Lutheran Seminary Concert Choir Performance

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