Christ Jesus lay

if you do not hear the tune, click here.

1.
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 hallelujah! Hallelujah!

2.
It was a strong and dreadful strife
when life and death contended.  
The victory remained with life,
the reign of death was ended.  
Holy scripture plainly says
that death is swallowed up by death,
its sting is lost forever.

3.
Then let us feast this holy day
on Christ, the bread of heaven.  
The word of grace has purged away
the old and evil leaven.  
Christ alone our souls will feed,
he is our meat and drink indeed;
faith lives upon no other!

Words:  Martin Luther, Christ lag in Todesbanden, Eyn Enchiridion, 1524
                    tr. Richard Massie, Martin Luther's Spiritual Songs, 1854, alt.
   Tune:  Gesangbüchlein, Wittenburg, 1524; adapted from Christ Ist Erstanden;
                    harmonized by J.S. Bach,
                        from Cantata No. 4, Christ lag in Todesbanden, ca. 1708

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