Anno 1530.
To the strict and honorable Hans von Sternberg, knight, my favorable lord and friend.
Grace and peace in Christ our Lord. Exalted, honorable, favorable Lord and friend! I recently sent out a booklet on the 117th Psalm. But because it had become so large in a hurry and unexpectedly, and had gone out with a low reputation, bare and naked, I have again put it into the furnace and improved it (though not much), so that it might become more pleasant and produce more fruit with a little more clothing. For the holy scripture is worthy to be honored and adorned abundantly and to the best of one's ability, so that it might find lovers; for it has enough enemies and persecutors without that.
(2) But I have spread it under your name, not only so that it would have more prestige with some who despise all art and learning, but also so that it would be a testimony that there are still some much finer people among the nobility.
3. for now almost the majority of the nobility are so blasphemous and disgraceful that they are doing evil to the common man.
Blood and evil delusion make, as if the whole nobility through and through is no good. And yet such delusions are common among the populace, and it is not good that those who are to rule in the world should be so lowly and lightly esteemed. Some day another evil might ensue, where the devil would find space and time, as he did under Muenzer in the riot.
4 We still have before our eyes the example of the clergy, who also sat so securely and lived so shamefully that the whole world had to despise them. Yet they thought it impossible that they should come under such contempt and fall. Nevertheless, it has happened, and it is to be feared that they will never again bring themselves out to the honors they had. The nobility is now trying to follow this example, and I am worried that they will succeed in inheriting the happiness of the clergy, if it remains otherwise. For God does not deny, who says [2 Sam. 2, 30.]: "He who despises me, shall be despised again." Yes, they think, because it is thus consumed, it has no need, both defy and insist on God and man, despise God's word, discipline and honor. But just as God has come behind the clergy unawares, so too
*On August 3, 1530, Luther wrote from Coburg to Justus Jonas that he had the 117th Psalm under his hands (De Wette, Vol. IV, p. 121). He had the interpretation printed at Coburg without a note. It appeared under the title: "Der Hundert vnd siebenzehende Psalm. Ausleget durch D. Mart. Luther. In the M.D.MX. Jar." To: end: "Gedrücket zu Cobm gk durch Haus Beern. ym 1530 Jar." Still on the Coburg, Luther has this writing, as he says in the dedication to the knight Hans von Sternberg, "pushed by new into the Esse, and (although not much improved", there also the dedication added, which is dated from August 27, 1530. Only on September 8 did he send the "whole" interpretation to his wife in Wittenberg (De Wette, Vol. VI, p. 122) with instructions to have it printed by Georg Rauft-Rhaw). This edition appeared under the same title as the one published in Coburg. At the end: "Gedruckt zu Wittemberg durch Georgen Rhaw." From the letter just mentioned, it seems to us that Luther first intended to have this psalm printed by Hans Weiss, but that the latter did not want to print it. The whole passage reads: "I am surprised why Hans Weiß did not accept the Psalm. I would not have thought that he would be so disgusted, it is a delicious copy. Send it here in its entirety, and grant it to Georgen Nau (Rawen) Wohl." There can hardly be any doubt that here, with respect to both printers, only one and the same psalm is being spoken of. The Psalm, however, of which Luther speaks here, is our writing, as also Seidemann (De Wette, vol. VI, p. 122, note) acknowledges. In the same year, a reprint was published by Andreas Rauscher in Erfurt. In 1721 and 1726, Rambach reprinted this interpretation tckffeu Under the title: Geistreiche Auslegung des hundert und siebenzehnten Psalms als ein Meisterstück einer gründliMuOMäruyg, sammt dessen Gedanken vom Reich Christi über Micha 5, 1. In the collections: in the Wittenberg (IvWfi Bd. Ill, Bl. 542 d; in the Jena (1566), Bd.V, Bl. 123 d; in the Altenburger, Bd. V, p. 250, in the LeipzigÄ, Bd. VI, p. 489 and in the Erlanger, Bd. 40, p. 280. The attribution is also found in De Wette, Bd. IV, p. -We give the text just as Walch after the first Wittenberg single edition, comparing the WittchrhUger and dksr Jenaer collection, as well as the Erlanger. - The difference between the Coburg and Wittenberg editions is limited to the fact that in the latter five sections, some shorter, some longer, have been added. We have indicated these in notes.
he will truly get behind the nobility as well. He is man enough for them; he will also give them enough pawing and throbbing that they will scatter like ashes before the wind.
If they wanted to be held in honor and feared, they would first have to hold God in honor and fear him, so that they would have a good, virtuous cry among the people. Otherwise, where one wants it with vain flaunting, throbbing, proud, defiant, and besides despise virtue and honor, that will soon make peasants out of the nobility. For they are also true peasants, without going under the nobility's pen and name, as long as they can last. God is a master of humbling the proud and making the despisers despised, and does not suffer them.
(6) In order that such evil delusions do not become too strong, it is necessary to praise and extol some of the nobility who are worthy of it. For God always sees to it that there are some who are pious and upright in the estate that He Himself has established, however few there may be, so that His creation and order may not be in vain, even if there is only one lot in Sodoma. And which state is so good on earth, since several parts are not evil inside? And if one looks at them alone, one must be under the illusion that the state is of no use; and if one already shows some pious people, it is still annoying that one should tolerate so many evil and harmful ones for the sake of the few good ones.
Therefore, because God the Father in heaven has gifted you with right earnestness and love for His holy word and all virtue, I have not refrained from praising and extolling such grace of God in you (for it is God's grace and not your ability), whether some of the naughty, desolate nobility might want to be moved to such examples, and also strive to keep themselves noble and not so rude and wicked. They are guilty, because they want to be the highest in the world, that they give honest, virtuous examples to the lowest; God demands it of them. Again, He will also repay them for the evil that has come out of their angry, shameful nature.
8. but I do not create such with this,
Well then, I will help to control the harmful delusion that neither the nobility nor any other estate is thoroughly useless, but God keeps his part under it, and his interest penny or booty penny.
(9) But I hope that such and such a booklet will please you, and that your heart will find in it a better, more blessed pilgrimage than the one you made in Jerusalem. Not that I despise such pilgrimage, for I would like to make such a journey myself, and now that I can no longer do so, I still like to hear and read about it; as I also listened to you so gladly and diligently the other day; but that we have not done such pilgrimage in a fine way; just as it happened to me in Rome, when I was also such a mad saint, running through all the churches and gaps, believing everything that is false and forged there. I also said one or ten masses in Rome, and at that time I was almost sorry that my father and mother were still alive, because I would have gladly delivered them from purgatory with my masses and other more excellent works and prayers. There is a saying in Rome: "Blessed is the mother whose son says mass on Saturday at St. John's. How gladly I would have made my mother blessed! But it was too urgent, and could not come and ate a sprightly herring for it.
(10) Well, so we have done, we did not know any better, and the Roman See did not punish such unswung lies. But now, praise God, we have the Gospels, Psalms and other holy Scriptures, wherein we may walk with profit and blessedness, and behold and visit the right promised land, the right Jerusalem, yea, the right paradise and kingdom of heaven, and walk not through the graves and bodily places of the saints, but through their hearts, minds and spirits. I hereby command you and yours to God. And forgive me my gossip; for it is a joy for me to see and hear pious nobility, because the other's gossip is so much and great. God help us all, amen! From the desert, on Saturday after Bartholomew [August 27] 1530.
Your willing
Martinus Luther.