"Christ Jesus Lay in Death's Strong Bands"

                    by Martin Luther, 1483-1546

                               Text From:

                       THE LUTHERAN HYMNAL

        (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1941)







        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 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,

        His sting is lost forever.

        Hallelujah!



        3. Here the true Paschal Lamb we see,

        Whom God so freely gave us;

        He died on the accursed tree-

        So strong His love!-to save us.

        See, His blood doth mark our door;

        Faith points to it, Death passes o'er,

        And Satan cannot harm us.

        Hallelujah!



        4. So let us keep the festival

        Whereto the Lord invites us;

        Christ is himself the Joy of all,

        The Sun that warms and lights us.

        By His grace He doth impart

        Eternal sunshine to the heart;

        The night of sin is ended.

        Hallelujah!



        5. Then let us feast this Easter Day

        On Christ, the Bread of heaven;

        The Word of Grace hath 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.

        Hallelujah!



        


        Notes:

        Hymn 195 from _The Lutheran Hymnal_

        Text: Acts 2:24

        Author: Martin Luther, 1524, cento

        Translated by: Richard Massie, 1854, alt.

        Titled: "Christ lag in Todesbanden"

        Tune: "Christ lag in Todesbanden"

        Latin melody, c. 1100

        Based on "Christ is erstanden"