Christ Jesus lay in death's strong bands,
For our offenses given;
But now at God's right hand He stands,
And brings us life from heaven.
Therefore let us joyful be
And sing to God right thankfully
Loud songs of alleluia!
Alleluia!
It was a strange and dreadful strife
When life and death contended;
The victory remained with life,
The reign of death was ended.
Holy Scripture plainly saith
That death is swallowed up by death,
Its sting is lost forever.
Alleluia!
Here our true Paschal Lamb we see,
Whom God so freely gave us;
He died on the accurséd tree--
So strong His love--to save us.
See, His blood now marks our door;
Faith points to it; death passes o'er,
And Satan cannot harm us.
Alleluia!
So let us keep the festival
To which the Lord invites us;
Christ is Himself the joy of all,
The sun that warms and lights us.
Now His grace to us imparts
Eternal sunshine to our hearts;
The night of sin is ended.
Alleluia!
Author: Martin Luther (1524)
Translator: Richard Massie
Tune: Christ lag in Todesbanden