Christ Lay In Grim Death's Prison

by Pachelbel, English translation by Walter E. Buszin



Christ lag in todesbanden.

Christ lay in grim death's prison.
The guilt of our sins bearing.
But now from death He's risen.
Eternal life declaring.

Therefore we rejoice and sing
Unto our God our thanks Him bring,
With song and aleluia.

Sore death was subdued by none,
Exposed were all to great danger,
Condemned were all, lost, undone,
Their sins roused God to anger.

Earth became a vale of tears,
Cruel death filled men's hearts with fear,
With dreadful might took men captive.
Aleluia!

Jesus Christ, the Son of God,
For us came down from heaven
To save us all from brutal rod,
From death and sin's foul leaven.

All death's right and vaunted power
Were seized by Christ our Life bestower
Death's sharp sting fear we no longer
Aleluia!

It was a strange and frightful war
Which death and life were waging.
but life came out conqueror,
It's power over death displaying.

God's own Scriptures us assert
How one death devoured the other.
Death's sting but provokes derision.
Aleluia!

Here is the very Easter lamb,
Which mortal men sustaineth.
Cucified.
God's own plan.

In ardent love attendeth,
His blood, sprinkled on our door
Prevents the wage of sin so sore.
The slayer now cannot strike us.
Aleluia!

We keep, therefore, this holy feast
With hearty joy and rapture.
For risen is our great High Priest,
Our Sun is He, our Pleasure.

Lighted by His wondrous grace,
Our hearts exult,
All gloom efface.
The night of sin hath Crhist ended.
Aleluia!

We banquet on this glad day,
Partake of Bread from heaven.
The evil leaven is now stayed
By Him whom God hath given.

Jesus Christ our feast will be
Will nourish our souls
That we by faith do serve Him,
Do serve Him solely.

Alelulia!