Awake, My Heart, with Gladness

Representative Text

1 Awake, my heart, with gladness–
see what today is done!
Now, after gloom and sadness,
comes forth the glorious sun.
My Savior there was laid
where our bed must be made
when to the realms of light
our spirit wings its flight.

2 The foe in triumph shouted
when Christ lay in the tomb;
but lo, he now is routed,
his boast is turned to gloom.
For Christ again is free;
in glorious victory
he who is strong to save
has triumphed o'er the grave.

3 This is a sight that gladdens—
what peace it does impart!
Now nothing ever saddens
the joy within my heart.
No gloom shall ever shake,
no foe shall ever take
the hope which God's own Son
in love for me has won.

4 Now I will cling forever
to Christ, my Savior dear,
My Lord will leave me never;
with him I need not fear.
He rends death's iron chain;
he breaks through sin and pain.
He shatters hell's dark thrall;
I follow Him through all.

5 He brings me to the portal
that leads to bliss untold,
whereon this rhyme immortal
is found in script of gold:
"Who there my cross has shared
finds here a crown prepared;
who there with me has died
shall here be glorified."


Source: Christian Worship: Hymnal #443

Translator: John Kelly

Kelly, John, was born at Newcastle-on-Tyne, educated at Glasgow University, studied theology at Bonn, New College, Edinburgh, and the Theological College of the English Presbyterian Church (to which body he belongs) in London. He has ministered to congregations at Hebburn-on-Tyne and Streatham, and was Tract Editor of the Religious Tract Society. His translations of Paul Gerhardt's Spiritual Songs were published in 1867. Every piece is given in full, and rendered in the metre of the originals. His Hymns of the Present Century from the German were published in 1886 by the Religious Tract Society. In these translations the metres of the originals have not always been followed, whilst some of the hymns have been abridged and others condens… Go to person page >

Author: Paul Gerhardt

Paul Gerhardt (b. Gräfenheinichen, Saxony, Germany, 1607; d. Lubben, Germany, 1676), famous author of Lutheran evangelical hymns, studied theology and hymnody at the University of Wittenberg and then was a tutor in Berlin, where he became friends with Johann Crüger. He served the Lutheran parish of Mittenwalde near Berlin (1651-1657) and the great St. Nicholas' Church in Berlin (1657-1666). Friederich William, the Calvinist elector, had issued an edict that forbade the various Protestant groups to fight each other. Although Gerhardt did not want strife between the churches, he refused to comply with the edict because he thought it opposed the Lutheran "Formula of Concord," which con­demned some Calvinist doctrines. Consequently, he was r… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Awake, my heart, with gladness
Title: Awake, My Heart, with Gladness
German Title: Auf, auf, mien Herz, mit Freuden
Translator: John Kelly
Author: Paul Gerhardt
Meter: 7.6.7.6.6.6.6.6
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Timeline

Media

The Cyber Hymnal #312
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Instances

Instances (1 - 7 of 7)
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Christian Worship (1993) #156

Text

Christian Worship #443

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Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary #341

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Evangelical Lutheran Worship #378

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Lutheran Service Book #467

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Lutheran Worship #128

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The Cyber Hymnal #312

Include 19 pre-1979 instances
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