09 May 2025

Christ Überwinder für uns arme Sünder

 My next new hymn translation for Lochner’s Easter-book is “Christ Überwinder für uns arme Sünder” (Anon., ca. 1750?), which opens Devotion 21. Lochner calls it an ancient Easter hymn; Knapp and Lange attribute it to the Bohemian Brethren. But the hymn does not appear in their early hymnals. I find it earliest in Burg (Prussia Gsb) 1751, where it is titled simply “Ancient Easter Hymnus.” Hymnus indicates that it is a translation of a Latin hymn. It is of course already clear that it is a translation of the ancient hymn “Vita sanctorum,” which may be noted in Kern’s hymnal, no. 377, the earlier translation of which begins in German “Der Heiligen Leben.”

Mel.: Christ Überwinder / Vita sanctorum
 


CHRIST, Victor holy
For all sinners lowly,
Camest from heaven,
Into death wast given
For us offended,
On the cross suspended,
To hell descended.

2 At the third dawning
After cross and groaning
Thou wast arisen
From death’s bonds and prison,
Which having riven,
Thou our life in heaven
Thereby hast given.

3 Christ, Thou art worthy
Of praise, laud, and glory,
Sung with rejoicing
Tongues, Thy praises voicing,
For Thy great favor,
Who didst us deliver
From ills forever.

4 This Paschal gladness
May we, free from sadness,
Keep ever purely,
That we may stand surely
At judgment’s giving
Paschal crowns receiving,
With Thee e’er living.

Translation © 2025 Matthew Carver.

GERMAN
Christ, Überwinder,
für uns arme Sünder,
die wir verloren,
bist du Mensch geboren,
in Tod gegangen,
hast am Kreuz gehangen,
die Höll gefangen.

2 Am dritten Tage
nach der Kreuzesklage
bist du erstanden
von des Todes Banden,
hast dadurch eben
das ewge Leben
uns wieder gegeben.

3 Lob, Preis und Ehre,
Jesu, lieber Herre,
Sei dir gesungen
mit fröhlichen Zungen
für deine Gnaden,
daß du uns entladen
von allem Schaden.

4 Laß frei vom Leide
diese Osterfreude
uns stets begehen,
daß wir endlich stehen
vor deinem Throne,
und die Osterkrone
uns werd zum Lohne!


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