Ach stirbt denn so mein allerliebstes Leben?

My next “new” hymn translation from Lochner’s Passion-book was “Ach stirbt denn so mein allerliebstes Leben?” (G. W. Sacer, 1661), of which stanzas 1–2, 4–5 were used in Devotion 58 (“The Miraculous Signs Following Jesus’ Death”). The hymn, also found in the second, enlarged edition of the Buffalo Synod hymnal (Ev.-Luth. Gsb) #90, is found in an earlier translation on this blog from 2023 (included below). With about 1,500+ hymn translations, sometimes one slips through the cracks and I re-do it.


Mel.: Ach Gott, erhör mein Seufzen und Wehklagen
 

ALAS, shall thus my dearest Life be dying?
Yea, it is done, He makes His final sighing.
  My Lord is dead,
  O grief! O dread!
Can any man in pain like mine be lying?

2 The Dayspring from on high His setting keepeth,
The early-hunted Hind to slumber creepeth.
  Let tears not fail!
  My Crown bewail!
Oh, that I could not join Him where He sleepeth!

3 The Father’s Word, believers’ Hope unshaken,
The Prince of vict’ry dies a worm forsaken;
  The Prize divine
  Of David’s line,
The Rose of Sharon, from the world is taken.

4 He lieth stiff,  at whom hell stands affrighted,
Before whom heaven high bows down delighted;
  The soul’s great Friend,
  Death’s Bane and End
Is laid by death within the tomb benighted.

5 Ye graves, be split! Ye flinty rocks, be broken!
Be dim, thou sun! Earth shake, thy grief betoken!
  O sky, O sea—
  Star-canopy—
All creatures, to your Lord’s lament be woken!

6 The Shepherd for His sheep in death must tarry;
Come, Joseph, to the tomb thy Savior carry,
  And let the shroud
  Be rich endowed
With spices, His dear body well to bury.

7 My Jesus, my thoughts also will be with Thee,
I too with richest spices will enwreathe Thee
  Of sorrow true;
  My heart make new,
This for Thy tomb, O Savior, I bequeathe Thee.

8 Oh, seal this tomb, Lord, by Thy gracious Spirit!
Let faith therein rock’s constancy inherit.
  Abide in me,
  Let me on Thee
And on Thy truth reflect with faith’s true merit.

Translation © 2025 Matthew Carver.

CARVER (2023)

ALAS! The Life most dear to me is ended!
The deed is done, His Spirit is commended.
My God is dead.
O woe and dread!
Is any man with grief like mine attended?

2 At eve the Dayspring from on high is retireth,
The early-hunted Hind at last expireth,
Oh, weep with me!
My Crown is He!
To die with Him—that most my heart desireth!

3 The Father’s Word, the faithful’s Prince victorious,
Our Lord of Glory, suffers death inglorious!
Heav’n’s Glory fair,
The Branch and Heir,
And Sharon’s Rose is plucked away before us.

4 Now still is He who fear in hell doth waken,
Before whom heavens bow and earth is shaken,
The soul’s great Friend,
Death’s mortal End,—
From death into the inky tomb is taken.

5 Ye tombs, then break! Ye solid rocks, be splitting!
Ye mountains quake! And sun, thy light be quitting!
Star, sky, and sea,
And all that be,
Lament your Lord with weeping unremitting!

6 The Shepherd for His sheep to death is wearied;
Come, Joseph, let His body thus be carried
With gentle hands
In spice and bands,
Within the tomb, that He may be well buried.

7 My Jesus Christ, I too would thank Thy favor,
Would give to Thee the spice of faith’s behavior:
Repentance true.
My heart anew
Will bury Thee within this tomb, dear Savior.

8 To seal this tomb, Thy Spirit send from yonder;
Let faith be firmly set, and love grow fonder.
Abide in me;
Let me in Thee
And in Thy faithfulness devoutly ponder.

GERMAN

Ach! stirbt denn so mein allerliebstes Leben?
Ja, es ist hin, der Geist ist aufgegeben;
mein Gott ist todt,
o Angst! o Noth!
kann Jemand auch, wie ich, in Kummer schweben?

2 Am Abend stirbt der Aufgang aus der Höhe,
es leget sich das früh gejagte Rehe.
Ach! weint mit mir!
klagt meine Zier!
ach! daß ich nicht mit Ihm zur Erden gehe!

3 Des Vaters Wort, der Schutz und Trutz der Frommen,
der Siegesfürst ist schmählich umgekommen.
Des Himmels Preis,
des Davids Reis,
die Ros' im Thal ist von der Welt genommen.

4 Der ist erstarrt, für dem die Höll' erschricket,
für welchem sich der hohe Himmel bücket;
der Seelen-Freund,
des Todes Feind
wird von dem Tod ins finstre Grab gezücket.

5 Ihr Gräber brecht, ihr harten Felsen splittert,
du Sonn' erblaß, ihr Erden-Klüfte schüttert!
du Luft, du Meer,
du Sternen-Heer,
klagt euren Herrn, ihr Element zittert.

6 Der Hirt ist todt für die geliebte Heerde;
komm, Joseph, komm, und bring Ihn zu der Erde;
gieb her Gewand mit milder Hand,
gieb Salben, daß Er wohl begraben werde.

7 Mein Jesu Christ, auch ich will Dich bedenken,
ich will Dir Herr die Specereien schenken
der wahren Reu,
mein Herz wird neu,
in dieses Grab will ich Dich Heiland senken.

8 Dies Grab soll mir Dein guter Geist versiegeln,
der Glaube soll mir's fest und wohl verriegeln.
Bleib Du in mir,
las mich in Dir
und Deiner Treu andächtiglich bespiegeln.