A stronghold sure our God remains,
A shield and hope unfailing
This is worked in bold fugato (both chorus and orchestra taking the subject or the counter-subject), for thirty-six bars, which are then repeated, note for note, to the words: “In need His help our freedom gains, o’er all we fear prevailing.”
A short quotation may serve to give some idea of the fulness of the writing and the boldness of the counterpoint, of which the effect, when sung with proper energy, is overwhelming.
The words “our old malignant foe” follow, with the new fugue subject