Jesus Christus, unser Heiland, / der den Tod überwand (Alber)

In preparation for my translation of Lochner’s Easter-book (Eastertide counterpart to the Passion-book), tentatively slated for publication in 2026, I have undertaken to translate a number of previously untranslated hymns, as well as to provide a few new translations for those already in English, because of copyrights or just because it seemed like a diverting exercise. I begin this new series with a Lutheran revision of the Regina cæli: “Jesus Christus, unser Heiland, / der den Tod überwand,” a text earlier attempted by Luther in 1524. Alber’s text is not closely related to, though perhaps inspired by, Luther’s. My translation owes a little to Bacon in the first part, nevertheless. It is notable that the Latin text is retained in conjunction with the German, and may indicate singing in alternation between choir and congregation. Lochner gives only the German of stanzas 1–3. The images for the original text and melody below come from Wolf’s Kirchengesäng (1591).

 Mel.: Jesus Christus, unser Heiland.*
 

O SPONSA Christi laetare. Alleluia! [O bride of Christ, rejoice]
Jesus Christ, our– Savior, who
Death for us overthrew,
Is now arisen,
And hath bound up sin and death in prison.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

2 Quia qui crucem pro te portavit. Alleluia! [Because He who bore the cross for thee]
Sinless born, God’s wrath He bore,
Us to God did restore,
Thus did our Savior
Move God to regard us with all favor.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

3 Resurrexit, sicut dixit.  Alleluia! [Is risen as He said]
Grace, sin, devil, life– and death
All in His hand He hath;
He can deliver
All those who in faith will seek Him ever.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

4 Oremus omnes Deum. [Let us all pray God]
Rejoice, thou holy Church, in the Lord’s grace,
Christ prepared for thee a place:
Where He is thou may’st be,
Therefore, Lord Jesus Christ, praise be to Thee!
Alleluia! Alleluia!

5 Ergo domine, rex cælestis, Deus alme, [Therefore, O Lord, King of heaven, gracious God]
sit sempiterna gloria tibi. [Eternal glory be to Thee]
Christ, by His holy– death, hath
Us redeemed– from– death;
He, by His death hath put to death / everlasting death,
And rescued us / from endless wrath.
Alleluia!

6 Quoniam te decet laus et honor, o domine, [For praise and honor befit Thee, O Lord]
qui mortem moriendo vicisti. [Who by dying hast conquered death]
Mary, Christ’s own Mo–ther true,
Now thy joy renew!
He by thee conceivèd
Is risen, and from the dead retrievèd.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

7 Fac nos tecum surgere. Halleluia. [Make us to rise again with Thee]
God by His favor
Let us walk in lives of newness ever.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

Translation © 2025 Matthew Carver.

GERMAN

O sponsa Christi laetare. Halleluia.
Jesus Christus, unser Heiland,
der den Tod überwand,
Ist auferstanden,
Die Sünd und den Tod hat er gefangen,
Halleluja, Halleluja!

Quia qui crucem pro te portavit, Halleluia.
2 Der ohn Sünden war geborn
Trug für uns Gottes Zorn,
Hat uns versöhnet,
Daß uns Gott, der Herr, sein Hulde gönnet.
Halleluja, Halleluja!

Resurrexit, sicut dixit. Halleluia.
3 Tod, Sünd, Teufel, Leben und Gnad
Alls in Händen er hat,
Er kann erretten
Alle, die im Glauben zu ihm treten.
Halleluja, Halleluja!

Oremus omnes Deum.
4 Freu dich, du heilige Christenheit,
Christ hat dir die Stätt bereit,
Daß du seist, wo er ist.
Drum sei dir Lob gesagt, Herr Jesu Christ.
Halleluja, Halleluja!

Ergo domine, rex cælestis, Deus alme, sit seimpiterna gloria tibi.
5 Christ durch seinen heiligen Tod
Uns erlöset hat,
Durch seinen Tod er getödt hat den ewigen Tod
Und uns erlöst aus aller Noth.
Halleluja!

Quoniam te decet laus et honor, o domine, qui mortem moriendo vicisti.
6 Du werthe Mutter Christi,
Freu dich Maria,
Den du hast empfangen,
Der ist von den Todten auferstanden,
Halleluja, Halleluja!

Fac nos tecum surgere. Halleluia.
7 Gott wöll uns geben,
Daß wir wandeln in eim neuen Leben.
Halleluja, Halleluja!