hymn Wo Gott der Herr nicht bei uns hält, a paraphrase of Psalm 124, was published in the Erfurt Enchiridion in 1524. It was used by several composers as a base for organ and choral music, including Bach's chorale cantata BWV 178. Jonas was busied in conferences (including a prominent role in the Reformation conferences at Marburg (1529) and Augsburg (1530)) and visitations during the next twenty years, and in diplomatic work with the princes. In the autumn of 1531, Jonas published a German translation of the Apology of the Augsburg Confession and in 1541 he began a successful preaching crusade in Halle, becoming superintendent of its churches in 1542 or 1544 and priest in the Market Church of Our Dear Lady (Marktkirche Unser Lieben Frauen) the city of Halle, Saxony-Anhalt. Martin Luther became severely ill and visited his friend during Christmas in 1545. Jonas was present at Luther's deathbed at Eisleben, and preached the funeral sermon; in a procession Luther's body was taken to Halle and buried in Wittenberg. In the same year Jonas was banished from the duchy by Maurice, Duke of Saxony. From that time until his death, Jonas was unable to secure a satisfactory living. He wandered from place to place preaching, and finally went to Eisfeld, Thuringia (1553), where he died, aged 62. See also Christian humanism References Other sources Briefwechsel des Justus Jonas, gesammelt und bearbeitet von G. Kawerau (2 vols., Halle, 1884–1885). Retrieved on January 13, 2007. G. Kawerau's article, Herzog-Hauck, Realencyklopadie, ed. 3, with bibliography. External links Note 1493 births 1555 deaths People from Nordhausen, Thuringia 16th-century German Lutheran clergy Christian hymnwriters Christian apologists Jurists from Thuringia German Lutheran theologians German Protestant Reformers Translators of the Bible into German University of Erfurt alumni Academic staff of the University of Erfurt University of Wittenberg alumni Academic staff of the University of Wittenberg 16th-century German translators