Text:Christ Jesus lay in death’s strong bands
Author:Martin Luther, 1483-1546
Translator:Richard Massie, 1800-87
Tune:CHRIST LAG IN TODESBANDEN
Composer:Martin Luther, 1483-1546

364. Christ Jesus lay in death’s strong bands

1 Christ Jesus lay in death’s strong bands
for our offences given;
but now at God’s right hand he stands
and brings us light from heaven:
let us then with joy adore
and thank our God for evermore,
and sing loud hallelujahs.
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:
Stripped of power, no more it reigns,
an empty form alone remains:
death's sting is gone forever.
Hallelujah!

3 So let us keep the festival
our Lord himself invites us;
Christ is the Lamb, the joy of all,
the sun that warms and lights us;
through the glory of his grace
all darkness must today give place,
the night of sin is ended.
Hallelujah!

4 Then let us feast this holy day
on the true bread of heaven.
The word of grace has purged away
the old and wicked leaven.
Christ alone our souls can feed,
he is our food and drink indeed,
faith lives upon no other.
Hallelujah!

Text Information
First Line: Christ Jesus lay in death’s strong bands
Translator: Richard Massie, 1800-87 (alt.)
Author: Martin Luther, 1483-1546
Meter: 87.87.78.74
Language: English
Publication Date: 1999
Scripture: ; ; ; ; ; ; ;
Topic: Conflict; Death; Eucharist (8 more...)
Tune Information
Name: CHRIST LAG IN TODESBANDEN
Composer: Martin Luther, 1483-1546
Meter: 87.87.78.74
Key: d minor or modal
Source: Adapted from an 11th-cent. Latin Sequence



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