Moravian Book of Worship ‎#367

367. Christ Jesus Lay in Death's Strong Bands

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 God's praises thankfully
with songs of allelujah!
Allelujah!

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 pow'r, no more it reigns,
an empty form alone remains;
death's sting is lost forever!
Allelujah!

3 So let us keep the festival
to which the Lord invites us;
Christ is himself the joy of all,
The sun that warms and lights us.
Now his grace to us imparts
eternal sunshine to our hearts;
the night of sin is ended.
Allelujah!

Text Information

• First Line: Christ Jesus lay in death's strong bands
• Title: Christ Jesus Lay in Death's Strong Bands
• Author: Martin Luther (1524)
• Translator: Richard Massie (1854, alt.)
• Meter: 8.7.8.7.7.8.7.4.
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1995
• Scripture:
  Isaiah 25:6-9
  ;
  John 6:48-51
  ;
  John 19:1-6
  ;
  1 Corinthians 15
• Topic: Easter; Christ--Victorious; Christian year--Easter

Tune Information

• Name: CHRIST LAG IN TODESBANDEN
• Harmonizer: Johann Sebastian Bach (1707)
• Meter: 8.7.8.7.7.8.7.4.
• Key: d minor or modal
• Source: Geystliche gesangk Buchleyn (1524)