Here is my translation of the hymn, “Ich weiß, daß mein Erlöser lebet” (E. Neumeister, 1710), from the author’s Zugang zum Gnadenstuhl, first series, for Easter Tuesday. The melody assignment, “Wer nur den lieben Gott,” does not quite fit the last two lines without syncopation or splitting of the last notes in those lines, so I suggest another melody in the appropriate meter.
Mel.: Ach, Herr, warum wirst du so ferne;
Or: Welt, tobe, wie du willst, und wüte;
Or: Mein Jesu, hier sind deine Brüder.
I KNOW that my Redeemer liveth!
He lives, and so His life is mine.
Though death its dread appearance giveth,
It cannot shake my faith divine,
For since my Jesus now is risen,
I live, e’en in death’s bonds and prison.
2 I will myself be gladly dying,
That I may live beyond annoy.
For Jesus by His justifying,
Makes me an heir of all His joy.
All years and treasures filled with wonder
Compare not to a moment yonder.
3 Oh, when shall come the hours of gladness,
When shall the beauteous time draw near,
When I am loosed from weights of sadness,
When, freed from toil and labors here,
I shall in hea’vnly bliss forever
Be giv’n to see my dearest Savior?
4 How longs my soul, enrapt with wonder!
No hour doth pass which I with glee
Fail not in faith to count, and ponder
If this might not the final be!
No earthly good doth me restrain
Till I the highest good obtain.
5 God, when shall cease this longing for Thee?
When wilt Thou take me up in joy?
When shalt Thou crown me with Thy glory?
When ends my course of life, when I
Will find the way of glad salvation?
Oh, come, ye hours of jubilation!
Translation © 2026 Matthew Carver.
GERMAN
Ich weiß, daß mein Erlöser lebet!
Er lebt, so ist sein Leben mein.
Ob mir der Tod vor Augen schwebet,
kann er mir doch nicht schrecklich sein.
Denn weil mein Jesus auferstanden,
so leb ich auch in Todesbanden.
2 Ich selber wünsche mir zu sterben,
damit ich ewig leben kann.
Denn Jesus nimet mich zum Erben
zum Erben seiner Freuden, an.
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