"Here I Stand"
before the Diet of Worms in 1520
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MOST SERENE EMPEROR, AND YOU ILLUSTRIOUS
PRINCES AND GRACIOUS LORDS:—I this day
appear before you in all humility, according to your
command, and I implore your majesty and your
august highnesses, by the mercies of God, to
listen with favor to the defense of a cause which I
am well assured is just and right. I ask pardon, if by reason of my ignorance, I am wanting in the
manners that befit a court; for I have not been brought up in king’s palaces, but in the seclusion of a
cloister. 1
Two questions were yesterday put to me by his imperial majesty; the first, whether I was the author
of the books whose titles were read; the second, whether I wished to revoke or defend the doctrine
I have taught. I answered the first, and I adhere to that answer. 2
As to the second, I have composed writings on very different subjects. In some I have discussed
Faith and Good Works, in a spirit at once so pure, clear, and Christian, that even my adversaries
themselves, far from finding anything to censure, confess that these writings are profitable, and
deserve to be perused by devout persons. The pope’s bull, violent as it is, acknowledges this. What,
then, should I be doing if I were now to retract these writings? Wretched man! I alone, of all men
living, should be abandoning truths approved by the unanimous voice of friends and enemies, and
opposing doctrines that the whole world glories in confessing! 3
I have composed, secondly, certain works against popery, wherein I have attacked such as by false
doctrines, irregular lives, and scandalous examples, afflict the Christian world, and ruin the bodies
and souls of men. And is not this confirmed by the grief of all who fear God? Is it not manifest that
the laws and human doctrines of the popes entangle, vex, and distress the consciences of the
faithful, while the crying and endless extortions of Rome engulf the property and wealth of
Christendom, and more particularly of this illustrious nation? 4
If I were to revoke what I have written on that subject, what should I do…. but strengthen this
tyranny, and open a wider door to so many and flagrant impieties? Bearing down all resistance with
fresh fury, we should behold these proud men swell, foam, and rage more than ever! And not
merely would the yoke which now weighs down Christians be made more grinding by my
retractation—it would thereby become, so to speak, lawful,—for, by my retractation, it would
receive confirmation from your most serene majesty, and all the States of the Empire. Great God! I
should thus be like to an infamous cloak, used to hid and cover over every kind of malice and
tyranny. 5
In the third and last place, I have written some books against private individuals, who had
undertaken to defend the tyranny of Rome by destroying the faith. I freely confess that I may have
attacked such persons with more violence than was consistent with my profession as an
ecclesiastic: I do not think of myself as a saint; but neither can I retract these books. because I
should, by so doing, sanction the impieties of my opponents, and they would thence take occasion
to crush God’s people with still more cruelty. 6
Yet, as I am a mere man, and not God, I will defend myself after the example of Jesus Christ, who
said: “If I have spoken evil, bear witness against me” (John xviii:23). How much more should I, who
am but dust and ashes, and so prone to error, desire that every one should bring forward what he
can against my doctrine. 7
Therefore, most serene emperor, and you illustrious princes, and all, whether high or low, who hear
me, I implore you by the mercies of God to prove to me by the writings of the prophets and apostles
that I am in error. As soon as I shall be convinced, I will instantly retract all my errors, and will
myself be the first to seize my writings, and commit them to the flames. 8
What I have just said I think will clearly show that I have well considered and weighed the dangers
to which I am exposing myself; but far from being dismayed by them, I rejoice exceedingly to see
the Gospel this day, as of old, a cause of disturbance and disagreement. It is the character and
destiny of God’s word. “I came not to send peace unto the earth, but a sword,” said Jesus Christ.
God is wonderful and awful in His counsels. Let us have a care, lest in our endeavors to arrest
discords, we be bound to fight against the holy word of God and bring down upon our heads a
frightful deluge of inextricable dangers, present disaster, and everlasting desolations…. Let us
have a care lest the reign of the young and noble prince, the Emperor Charles, on whom, next to
God, we build so many hopes, should not only commence, but continue and terminate its course
under the most fatal auspices. I might cite examples drawn from the oracles of God. I might speak
of Pharaohs, of kings of Babylon, or of Israel, who were never more contributing to their own ruin
than when, by measures in appearances most prudent, they thought to establish their authority!
“God removeth the mountains and they know not” (Job ix:5). 9
In speaking thus, I do not suppose that such noble princes have need of my poor judgment; but I
wish to acquit myself of a duty that Germany has a right to expect from her children. And so
commending myself to your august majesty, and your most serene highnesses, I beseech you in all
humility, not to permit the hatred of my enemies to rain upon me an indignation I have not
deserved. 10
Since your most serene majesty and your high mightinesses require of me a simple, clear and
direct answer, I will give one, and it is this: I can not submit my faith either to the pope or to the
council, because it is as clear as noonday that they have fallen into error and even into glaring
inconsistency with themselves. If, then, I am not convinced by proof from Holy Scripture, or by
cogent reasons, if I am not satisfied by the very text I have cited, and if my judgment is not in this
way brought into subjection to God’s word, I neither can nor will retract anything; for it can not be
right for a Christian to speak against his country. I stand here and can say no more. God help me.
Amen.
PRINCES AND GRACIOUS LORDS:—I this day
appear before you in all humility, according to your
command, and I implore your majesty and your
august highnesses, by the mercies of God, to
listen with favor to the defense of a cause which I
am well assured is just and right. I ask pardon, if by reason of my ignorance, I am wanting in the
manners that befit a court; for I have not been brought up in king’s palaces, but in the seclusion of a
cloister. 1
Two questions were yesterday put to me by his imperial majesty; the first, whether I was the author
of the books whose titles were read; the second, whether I wished to revoke or defend the doctrine
I have taught. I answered the first, and I adhere to that answer. 2
As to the second, I have composed writings on very different subjects. In some I have discussed
Faith and Good Works, in a spirit at once so pure, clear, and Christian, that even my adversaries
themselves, far from finding anything to censure, confess that these writings are profitable, and
deserve to be perused by devout persons. The pope’s bull, violent as it is, acknowledges this. What,
then, should I be doing if I were now to retract these writings? Wretched man! I alone, of all men
living, should be abandoning truths approved by the unanimous voice of friends and enemies, and
opposing doctrines that the whole world glories in confessing! 3
I have composed, secondly, certain works against popery, wherein I have attacked such as by false
doctrines, irregular lives, and scandalous examples, afflict the Christian world, and ruin the bodies
and souls of men. And is not this confirmed by the grief of all who fear God? Is it not manifest that
the laws and human doctrines of the popes entangle, vex, and distress the consciences of the
faithful, while the crying and endless extortions of Rome engulf the property and wealth of
Christendom, and more particularly of this illustrious nation? 4
If I were to revoke what I have written on that subject, what should I do…. but strengthen this
tyranny, and open a wider door to so many and flagrant impieties? Bearing down all resistance with
fresh fury, we should behold these proud men swell, foam, and rage more than ever! And not
merely would the yoke which now weighs down Christians be made more grinding by my
retractation—it would thereby become, so to speak, lawful,—for, by my retractation, it would
receive confirmation from your most serene majesty, and all the States of the Empire. Great God! I
should thus be like to an infamous cloak, used to hid and cover over every kind of malice and
tyranny. 5
In the third and last place, I have written some books against private individuals, who had
undertaken to defend the tyranny of Rome by destroying the faith. I freely confess that I may have
attacked such persons with more violence than was consistent with my profession as an
ecclesiastic: I do not think of myself as a saint; but neither can I retract these books. because I
should, by so doing, sanction the impieties of my opponents, and they would thence take occasion
to crush God’s people with still more cruelty. 6
Yet, as I am a mere man, and not God, I will defend myself after the example of Jesus Christ, who
said: “If I have spoken evil, bear witness against me” (John xviii:23). How much more should I, who
am but dust and ashes, and so prone to error, desire that every one should bring forward what he
can against my doctrine. 7
Therefore, most serene emperor, and you illustrious princes, and all, whether high or low, who hear
me, I implore you by the mercies of God to prove to me by the writings of the prophets and apostles
that I am in error. As soon as I shall be convinced, I will instantly retract all my errors, and will
myself be the first to seize my writings, and commit them to the flames. 8
What I have just said I think will clearly show that I have well considered and weighed the dangers
to which I am exposing myself; but far from being dismayed by them, I rejoice exceedingly to see
the Gospel this day, as of old, a cause of disturbance and disagreement. It is the character and
destiny of God’s word. “I came not to send peace unto the earth, but a sword,” said Jesus Christ.
God is wonderful and awful in His counsels. Let us have a care, lest in our endeavors to arrest
discords, we be bound to fight against the holy word of God and bring down upon our heads a
frightful deluge of inextricable dangers, present disaster, and everlasting desolations…. Let us
have a care lest the reign of the young and noble prince, the Emperor Charles, on whom, next to
God, we build so many hopes, should not only commence, but continue and terminate its course
under the most fatal auspices. I might cite examples drawn from the oracles of God. I might speak
of Pharaohs, of kings of Babylon, or of Israel, who were never more contributing to their own ruin
than when, by measures in appearances most prudent, they thought to establish their authority!
“God removeth the mountains and they know not” (Job ix:5). 9
In speaking thus, I do not suppose that such noble princes have need of my poor judgment; but I
wish to acquit myself of a duty that Germany has a right to expect from her children. And so
commending myself to your august majesty, and your most serene highnesses, I beseech you in all
humility, not to permit the hatred of my enemies to rain upon me an indignation I have not
deserved. 10
Since your most serene majesty and your high mightinesses require of me a simple, clear and
direct answer, I will give one, and it is this: I can not submit my faith either to the pope or to the
council, because it is as clear as noonday that they have fallen into error and even into glaring
inconsistency with themselves. If, then, I am not convinced by proof from Holy Scripture, or by
cogent reasons, if I am not satisfied by the very text I have cited, and if my judgment is not in this
way brought into subjection to God’s word, I neither can nor will retract anything; for it can not be
right for a Christian to speak against his country. I stand here and can say no more. God help me.
Amen.
Martin Luther
© Duane Riffenburgh 2009