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 for ever. 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 joyful 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!