Evangelical Lutheran hymnal ‎#84

84. In death's strong grasp the Savior lay

1 In Death's strong grasp the Savior lay,
For our offences given;
But now the Lord is ris'n to-day,
And brings us life from heaven;
Wherefore let us all rejoice,
And praise our God with cheerful voice,
And sing loud hallelujahs.
Hallelujah!

2 No son of man could conquer death,
Such mischief sin had wrought us;
For innocence dwelt not on earth,
And therefore death had brought us
Into thralldom from of old,
And ever grew more strong and bold,--
His shadow lay athwart us. Hallelujah!

3 But Jesus, God's eternal Son,
Is come for our salvation,
The cause of death He has undone,
And stopped its devastation;
Ruined all his right and claim,
And left him nothing but the name,--
His sting is lost forever. Hallelujah!

4 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,
Made henceforth a derision. Hallelujah!

5 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,--
The murd'rer cannot harm us. Hallelujah!

6 So let us keep the festival,
Whereto the Lord invites us;
Christ is Himself the joy of all,
The sun which warms and lights us:
By His grace He doth impart
Eternal sunshine to the heart;
The night of sin is ended. Hallelujah!

7 Then let us feast this Easter-day
On the true Bread of heaven;
The Word of grade hath purged away
The old and wicked leaven:
Christ alone our souls will feed,
He is our meat and drink indeed;
Faith lives upon no other. Hallelujah!

Text Information

• First Line: In death's strong grasp the Savior lay
• Author: Dr. Martin Luther (1524)
• Meter: No. 43
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1908
• Topic: The Church Year: Easter; Easter Day
• Source: Tr. Comp. from Catherine Winkworth's and Richard Massie's Verstions, 1880
• Notes: From the German text: Christ lag in Todesbanden

Tune Information

• Name: TORGAU (Christ lag in Tdesbanden)
• Adapter: Johann Walther (1524)
• Key: d minor or modal
• Source: 12th Century