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them。
For instance； Christ says： Ex abundatia cordis os loquitur。 If I
am to follow these asses； they will lay the original before me
literally and translate it as： 〃Out of the abundance of the heart
the mouth speaks。〃 Is that speaking with a German tongue？ What
German could understand something like that？ What is this
〃abundance of the heart？〃 No German can say that； unless； of
course； he was trying to say that someone was altogether too
magnanimous； or too courageous； though even that would not yet be
correct； as 〃abundance of the heart〃 is not German； not any more
than 〃abundance of the house； 〃abundance of the stove〃 or
〃abundance of the bench〃 is German。 But the mother in the home
and the common man say this： 〃What fills the heart overflows the
mouth。〃 That is speaking with the proper German tongue of the
kind I have tried for； although unfortunately not always
successfully。 The literal Latin is a great barrier to speaking
proper German。
So； as the traitor Judas says in Matthew 26： 〃Ut quid perditio
haec？〃 and in Mark 14： 〃Ut quid perditio iste unguenti facta est？〃
Subsequently； for these literalist asses I would have to translate
it： 〃Why has this loss of salve occurred？〃 But what kind of
German is this？ What German says 〃loss of salve occurred〃？ And
if he does understand it at all； he would think that the salve is
lost and must be looked for and found again； even though that is
still obscure and uncertain。 Now if that is good German why do
they not come out and make us a fine； new German testament and let
Luther's testament be？ I think that would really bring out their
talents。 But a German would say 〃Ut quid； etc。。〃 as 〃Why this
waste？〃 or 〃Why this extravagance？〃 Even 〃it is a shame about the
ointment〃 … these are good German； in which one can understand
that Magdalene had wasted the salve she poured out and had done
wrong。 That was what Judas meant as he thought he could have used
it better。
Now when the angel greets Mary； he says： 〃Greetings to you； Mary；
full of grace； the Lord is with you。〃 Well up to this point； this
has simply been translated from the simple Latin； but tell me is
that good German？ Since when does a German speak like that … being
〃full of grace〃？ One would have to think about a keg 〃full of〃
beer or a purse 〃full of〃 money。 So I translated it： 〃You
gracious one〃。 This way a German can at last think about what the
angel meant by his greeting。 Yet the papists rant about me
corrupting the angelic greeting … and I still have not used the
most satisfactory German translation。 What if I had used the most
satisfactory German and translated the salutation： 〃God says
hello； Mary dear〃 （for that is what the angel was intending to say
and what he would have said had he even been German！）。 If I had；
I believe that they would have hanged themselves out of their
great devotion to dear Mary and because I have destroyed the
greeting。
Yet why should I be concerned about their ranting and raving？ I
will not stop them from translating as they want。 But I too shall
translate as I want and not to please them； and whoever does not
like it can just ignore it and keep his criticism to himself； for
I will neither look at nor listen to it。 They do not have to
answer for or bear responsibility for my translation。 Listen up；
I shall say 〃gracious Mary〃 and 〃dear Mary〃； and they can say
〃Mary full of grace〃。 Anyone who knows German also knows what an
expressive word 〃dear〃（liebe） is： dear Mary； dear God； the dear
emperor； the dear prince； the dear man； the dear child。 I do not
know if one can say this word 〃liebe〃 in Latin or in other
languages with so much depth of emotion that it pierces the heart
and echoes throughout as it does in our tongue。
I think that St。 Luke； as a master of the Hebrew and Greek
tongues； wanted to clarify and articulate the Greek word
〃kecharitomene〃 that the angel used。 And I think that the angel
Gabriel spoke with Mary just as he spoke with Daniel； when he
called him 〃Chamudoth〃 and 〃Ish chamudoth； vir desiriorum〃； that
is 〃Dear Daniel。〃 That is the way Gabriel speaks； as we can see
in Daniel。 Now if I were to literally translate the words of the
angel； and use the skills of these asses； I would have to
translate it as 〃Daniel； you man of desires〃 or 〃Daniel； you man
of lust〃。 Oh； that would be beautiful German！ A German would； of
course； recognize 〃Man〃； 〃Lueste〃 and 〃begirunge〃 as being German
words； although not altogether pure as 〃lust〃 and 〃begir〃 would be
better。 But when those words are put together you get 〃you man of
desires〃 and no German is going to understand that。 He might even
think that Daniel is full of lustful desires。 Now wouldn't that
be a fine translation！ So I have to let the literal words go and
try to discover how the German says what the Hebrew 〃ish
chamudoth〃 expresses。 I discover that the German says this； 〃You
dear Daniel〃； 〃you dear Mary〃； or 〃you gracious maiden〃； 〃you
lovely maiden〃； 〃you gentle girl〃 and so on。 A translator must
have a large vocabulary so he can have more words for when a
particular one just does not fit in the context。
Why should I talk about translating so much？ I would need an
entire year were I to point out the reasons and concerns behind my
words。 I have learned what an art and job translating is by
experience； so I will not tolerate some papal ass or mule as my
critic； or judge。 They have not tried the task。 If anyone does
not like my translations； they can ignore it； and may the devil
repay the one who dislikes or criticizes my translations without
my knowledge or permission。 Should it be criticized； I will do it
myself。 If I do not do it； then they can leave my translations in
peace。 They can each do a translation that suits them … what do I
care？
To this I can； with good conscience； give witness … that I gave my
utmost effort and care and I had no ulterior motives。 I have not
taken or wanted even a small coin in return。 Neither have I made
any by it。 God knows that I have not even sought honor by it； but
I have done it as a service to the blessed Christians and to the
honor of the One who sits above who blesses me every hour of my
life that had I translated a thousand times more diligently； I
should not have deserved to live or have a sound eye for even a
single hour。 All I am and have to offer is from his mercy and
grace … indeed of his precious blood and bitter sweat。 Therefore；
God willing； all of it will also serve to his honor； joyfully and
sincerely。 I may be insulted by the scribblers and papists but
true Christians； along with Christ； their Lord； bless me。
Further； I am more than amply rewarded if just one Christian
acknowledge me as a workman with integrity。