Ich armer Sünder bin auch heilig

Here is my supplementary translation, with Rev. Emanuel Cronenwett, of the Christian life (following Jesus) hymn, “Ich armer Sünder bin auch heilig” (Anon. 1870?), in GGELB #394, with melody assignment “Wer nur den lieben Gott läßt walten.” The hymn first appears in GGELB 1870 and was perhaps created by one of its committee; it features inexact rhyme in several places, and has a more modern tone generally. Rev. Cronenwett’s translation of stanzas 3–5, 7–8 (unusually omitting 1st st.), first appeared in the ELH (Ohio) 1880.

 

POOR sinner that I am, I’m holy,
(Though some may scoff at such a word)
Yet not in my own self, but solely
By faith in Jesus Christ, my Lord.
I live alone by Jesus’ grace,
Who was made holy in my place.

2 He sanctified Himself—my Savior!—
That I in truth might holy be;
For sins that gained me God’s disfavor
He paid the price, and I am free;
From wrath and judgment there’s reprieve:
What He hath promised, I believe.

3 Who knew no sin and no deceiving,
Has borne my sin and my distress;
And I by grace in Him believing,
Now deck me with His righteousness.
As He is sinner to my good,
So I am holy through His blood.

4 Nay not in me, self-righteous were it,
On God's grace rests my holiness;
He looks on Christ's atoning merit,
And counts this as my righteousness:
This I believe, and hence my claim,
That I am holy in His name.

5 In Christ, by faith then, I am holy,
In self though 'tis not yet the case;
But I will likewise now so wholly
Seek e'er in life to walk by grace,
That soul and body may remain
All blameless till Christ come again.

6 I will for holiness endeavor,
Without which none can Jesus see.
I will renounce all sin whatever;
For whoso buildeth sinfully,
And not on Christ the Savior first,
For his salvation, is accursed.

7 I will devote my every member
To serve in righteousness God's will,
Then when I falter, e'er remember
That I may trust God's mercy still;
And pray that God would guide through strife,
That I may lead a holy life.

8 Thus will I walk, O God, before Thee,
That my light too may shine alway,
And that I by my life adore Thee,
Till I at length on that great day
In life and self shall holy be,
And wholly perfect, Lord, with Thee.

9 O Jesus, help! I have no power;
Without Thee I can nothing do.
Help me to watch with zeal each hour,
And this dear duty to fulfil,
That I a holy life may live,
And praise to Thee forever give.

Translation sts 1–2, 6, 9 © 2024 Matthew Carver.
Sts 3–5, 7–8 tr. E. Cronenwett, 1880.

CRONENWETT 1880:

3 Who knew no sin and no deceiving,
Has borne my sin and my distress;
And I by grace in Him believing,
Now deck me with His righteousness.
As He is sinner to my good,
So I am holy through His blood.

4 Nay not in me, self-righteous were it,
On God's grace rests my holiness;
He looks on Christ's atoning merit,
And counts this as my righteousness:
This I believe, and hence my claim,
That I am holy in His name.

5 In Christ, by faith then, I am holy,
In self though 'tis not yet the case;
But I will likewise now so wholly
Seek e'er in life to walk by grace,
That soul and body may remain
All blameless till Christ come again.

7 I will devote my every member
To serve in righteousness God's will,
Then when I falter, e'er remember
That I may trust God's mercy still;
And pray that God would guide through strife,
That I may lead a holy life.

8 Thus will I walk, O God, before Thee,
That my light too may shine alway,
And that I by my life adore Thee,
Till I at length on that great day
In life and self shall holy be,
And wholly perfect, Lord, with Thee.

GERMAN

Ich armer Sünder bin auch heilig,
obs andern unbegreiflich ist;—
doch nicht in mir, denn ich bin freilich
dies nur im Glaub an Jesum Christ.
Ich lebe nur von Christi Gnad,
der sich für mich geheiligt hat.

2 Er selbst hat sich für mich geheiligt,
daß ich in Wahrheit heilig sei;
die Sünd, womit ich Gott beleidigt,
hat er gebüßt und ich bin frei
von Gottes Zorn und dem Gericht.
Ich glaube, was sein Mund verspricht.

3 Er selbst, der kene Sünde hatte,
nahm alle meine Sünd auf sich.
Ich nehm im Glauben durch die Gnade
sein Heilgkeit nun ganz auf mich.
Wie er ist Sünder mir zu gut,
so bin ich heilig durch sein Blut.

4 Nicht in mir, sondern in dem Herzen
des Vaters ruht die Frömmigkeit.
Er sieht auf Christi Tod und Schmerzen,
und rechnet mirs zur Heiligkeit,
und weil ichs glaub, so bleibts dabei,
daß ich im Glauben heilig sei.

5 Ich bin im Glauben heilig worden,
im Leben bin ich es noch nicht;
doch will ich nun in diesem Orden
auch wandeln bei dem Gnadenlicht,
daß mein Geist ganz, samt Seel und Leib,
undsträflich auf die Zukunft bleib.

6 Ich will der Heiligung nachjagen,
ohn welche niemand Jesum schaut.
Ich will auch aller Sünd entsagen;
denn wer sein Haus mit Sünden baut,
wer sein Heil außer Jesum sucht,
und ihn nicht liebt, der ist verflucht.

7 Ich will begeben meine Glieder
zum Dienste der Gerechtigkeit,
und, wenn ich strauchle, will ich wieder
Vertrauen auf Barmherzigkeit,
und bitten, daß Gott mich regier,
da ich ein heilig Leben führ.

8 Das will ich thun zu Gottes Ehre,
daß auch mein Licht stets leuchten mag,
und daß der Ruhm des Herrn sich mehre,
bis einst, an jenem großen Tag,
ich auch im Leben werde rein
und ganz vollkommen heilig sein.

9 O Jesu, Jesu! hilf mir Schwachen;
denn ohne dich vermag ichs nicht;
hilf, daß ich möge ernstlich wachen,
und stets erfüllen diese Pflicht,
daß ich ein heilig Leben führ,
und so dich preise für und für.

Wir legen, Herr, in deinem Namen

Here is my translation of the cornerstone-laying hymn, “Wir legen, Herr, in deinem Namen” (Anon., 1870?), in GGELB #140 with melody assignment “Wer nur den lieben Gott läßt walten.” No author or earlier instance is known. It may be product of a member of the hymn committee. Sufficient hymns for such an occasion were found wanting otherwise. Still in 1895, Lochner includes in his Liturgische Formulare, from his earlier liturgical journal, an anonymous (?his own) hymn for the laying of a cornerstone: “Herr, hilf, laß wohl gelingen.” A different translation, “In Thy dear name and by Thy favor,” was included already in ELH (Ohio, 1880) by C. H. L. Schuette, and later in ALH (1930), where the melody “O daß ich tausend Zungen hätte” is assigned.

 

LORD, in Thy name a new foundation
We here would lay, Thy house to raise.
In mercy speak Thine affirmation
And let it prosper for Thy praise.
Thy Spirit here let mighty be
Through Thy pure Word continually.

2 Firm in the faith, O Jesus, ground us
On Thee, the Rock, our Lord alone,
That here Thy hymns may echo round us,
O Christ, the church’s Cornerstone!
Anoint and consecrate to Thee
This stone our Bethel for to be.

3 Grant us success in this endeavor,
Which only to Thy service tends;
Look on our off’ring with Thy favor;
Be Thou Thy people’s strong defense.
Then shall we all sing joyfully
All worship, laud, and praise to Thee.

4 Preserve us in the faith unerring
The Word and Sacraments defend,
Grant none to rob our crown enduring;
Yea, with us be until the end,
Built on Thyself, the one, true ground,
And in Thy grace’s cov’nant found.

Translation © 2024 Matthew Carver.

OHIO 1880:

1 In Thy dear name and by Thy favor,
This day we lay the corner-stone,
To build a house, O God and Savior,
To Thee, and to Thy praise alone.
Here let Thy Spirit by Thy Word
Perform Thy work of grace, dear Lord.

2 O let us all by faith be grounded,
Lord Jesus Christ, on Thee alone;
That is our midst Thy praise be sounded,
Who art the Church's Corner-stone.
To keep us in Thy faith and fear,
Build Thee and us a temple here.

3 Accept our off'rings, we implore Thee,
And bless the work we have begun;
To Thee alone and to Thy glory
This building consecrate, when done;
Then will we hither come and raise
Our hearts to Thee in thanks and praise.

4 Thro' saving faith preserve us ever
In Thy pure Word and Sacrament;
Be with us all, forsake us never;
To serve Thee make our hearts intent;
And when we die, O grant that we
Be found in cov'nant grace with Thee.

GERMAN

Wir legen, Herr, in deinem Namen
den Grund zu einem Heiligthum.
Sprich gnädig dazu Ja und Amen
und laß es dienen dir zum Ruhm.
Dein Geist hier walte fort und fort
durchs reine, lautre Gotteswort.

2 Im Glauben gründe fest uns alle
auf dich, den Fels, Herr Jesu Christ;
daß unter uns dein Lob erschalle,
der du der Kirche Eckstein bist.
O salbe, weihe diesen Stein,
daß er uns mög ein Bethel sein.

3 Gedeihen gieb zu diesem Baue
der deinem Dienst alleine gilt;
auf unsre Opfer gnädig schaue;
sei deines Volkes Schirm und Schild.
Dann singen fröhlich alle wir
Anbetung, Preis und Ehre dir.

4 Bewahr uns stets im rechten Glauben
beim reinen Wort und Sakrament;
laß niemand unsre Krone rauben;
ja, bleibe bei uns bis ans End!
Erbaut auf dich, den rechten Grund,
erhalt uns all im Gnadenbund.

Wenn ich die heilgen zehn Gebot

Here is my supplemental translation of the Ten Commandments hymn, “Wenn ich die heilgen zehn Gebot” (David Denicke, d. ), in ELGB #259, first appearing in the Hanover Gsb (Lüneburg, 1652ff.). Fischer says: “The hymn is based on Luther’s ‘Dies sind die heilgen zehn Gebot’ and treats especially the close of the Commandments.” It was included in Crüger’s Praxis with omission of stanzas 15–16, 19, 22, thus reduced to 18 stanzas, which became the generally accepted form (though the Kirchen-Gsb 1862 includes st. 16). The translation by Rev. C. H. L. Schuette in the Ohio Hymnal (1865) contains 8 stanzas, the last 4 summarizing material from the second half of the hymn. I have used his stanzas 2–4, but created a new first stanza to bring the wording more in line with the original. The appointed melody is “Dies sind die heilgen Zehn Gebot,” with the extra syllable in the last full line (thus 8.8.8.8.4), which means splitting the half-note on C between two syllables (or using the appropriate form of the melody).

 

WHEN I the holy Ten Commands
Behold, O God, which from Thy hands,
Were given, terror filleth me,
That I’ve so sorely angered Thee.
Kyrieleis.

2 I've loved the creature more than Thee
And sinned against Thy majesty;
My love and trust to Thee denied,
On self and man my soul relied.
Kyrieleis.

3 My lips have oft, from heart profane,
Employed Thy holy name in vain;
Forgetful of Thy cov'nant grace,
How seldom have I sought Thy face!
Kyrieleis.

4 In sinful cares, or work, or play,
I've often spent Thy holy day,
Despised Thy Word, strayed from Thy fold,
And left Thy benefits untold.
Kyrieleis.

5 I have not honored every hour
My parents, teachers, those in pow’r,
Have heeded not their faithful care,
Nor served them with a willing air.
Kyrieleis.

6 My neighbor I’ve not truly loved,
But spiteful and malicious proved,
Strife, quarreling I have begun,
By wrath and hate much sin have done.
Kyrieleis.

7 I have impurity embraced,
Nor lived a holy life and chaste,
And oft in food and drink have not
Of godly moderation thought.
Kyrieleis.

8 My I have not worked with eager hand
As duty would of me demand;
Unjustly have I goods acquired,
To help the poor have not aspired.
Kyrieleis.

9 I’ve listened to the sland’rers crude,
Nor all things for the best construed,
I have not striven constantly
For goodness, truth, and equity.
Kyrieleis.

10 By cunning with fair features wed,
My neighbor’s goods I’ve coveted,
And all the things which round him stand,
His office, cattle, house, and land.
Kyrieleis.

11 O mighty God above the skies!
Who Thee and Thy commands despise
Wrath and disfavor to the third
And fourth child’s child they have incurred.
Kyrieleis.

12 The thousandth generation, though,
Thy grace and peace await and know;
They love Thy Law and love Thee, Lord,
Above all lust and man’s reward.
Kyrieleis.

13 No such intent, alas, I see,
For no good thing doth dwell in me:
My heart and mind have not been set
Upon Thy promise and Thy threat.
Kyrieleis.

14 My every thought since earliest youth
Is turned away from good and truth.
I am corrupt from head to toe
Without an ounce of good to show.
Kyrieleis.

*15 As water spilling from a fount,
So sin and vice too vast to count,
From out my heart have freely spilled
And all my deeds and gestures filled.

*16 What man can count how oft he errs,
Until his conscience in him stirs;
Were I to answer in Thy court,
I must a thousand times fall short.
Kyrieleis.

17 Look, Father, on my misery
And pardon my iniquity!
In grace and favor take away
The heavy fine which I should pay.
Kyrieleis.

18 Remember, Christ Thy Son for me
Became a curse upon the Tree
And for my sins redemption made,
Which sins upon Himself He laid.
Kyrieleis.

*19 Here Thy New Covenant is set,
Wherein no curse my soul doth fret.
It grace and blessing bringeth me
And makes me from sin’s bondage free.
Kyrieleis.

20 Because In Christ I live anew,
Created His good works to do.
Thy Spirit’s gift set in my heart,
That I from evil may depart.
Kyrieleis.

21 That I may live within Thy will,
And war against sin’s passions still,
And evermore may strive, that I
The narrow gate may enter by.
Kyrieleis.

*22 God, Father, help me from Thy throne!
Help, O Lord Jesus, God’s true Son!
Help, Holy Spirit! Strengthen me,
That I may serve Thee willingly.
Kyrieleis.

Translation sts. 2–4 Schuette.
Translation sts. 1, 5–19 © 2023 Matthew Carver.

SCHUETTE 1865 (Ohio), sts 1-4 + (v, vii, xvi, xvii?)

Almighty Lord of earth and heav'n,
The Ten Commandments Thou hast giv'n
Reveal how wicked I have been
And make me dread the curse of sin.

2 I've loved the creature more than Thee
And sinned against Thy majesty;
My love and trust to Thee denied,
On self and man my soul relied.

3 My lips have oft, from heart profane,
Employed Thy holy name in vain;
Forgetful of Thy cov'nant grace,
How seldom have I sought Thy face!

4 In sinful cares, or work, or play,
I've often spent Thy holy day,
Despised Thy Word, strayed from Thy fold,
And left Thy benefits untold.

5 My parents oft I've disobeyed,
Their good with evil deeds repaid;
I've been unchaste in word and deed
And careless of my neighbor's need.

6 With hateful thoughts my heart's been stained,
Nor have I aye my tongue restrained;
I've coveted what was not mine,
And so transgressed Thy law divine.

7 Ah, how my sins are multiplied
When by Thy law my life is tried!
O jealous God, do pity me
And mark not mine iniquity!

8 Let grace to judgment be preferred;
Remove the curse I have incurred;
For Jesus' sake my sins forgive,
And may I to Thy glory live.

GERMAN

1 Wenn ich die heilgen zehn Gebot
betrachte, die Du selbst, o Gott!
gegeben hast, erschrecke ich,
daß ich so sehr erzürnet Dich.
Kyrieleis.

2 Ich hab die Creatur weit mehr
geliebt, als Dich und deine Ehr;
Dich nicht gefürchtt, Dir nicht vertraut,
auf mich und Menschen-Hülf gebaut.
Kyrieleis.

3 Ich habe deinn Namn und Bund
vergeblich oft geführt im Mund,
mit Herzens-Andacht nicht betrachtt,
Herr, Deine Weisheit, Güt und Macht.
Kyrieleis.

4 Ich hab zubracht den Sabbath-Tag
in Wollust, oder Müh und Plag:
Dein Wort versäumt und nicht gepreist,
was Du für Wohlthat mir ersweist.
Kyrieleis.

5 Ich habe nicht geehrt allzeit
die Eltern, Lehrer, Obrigkeit,
ihr Treu und Sorge nicht erkannt,
auch nicht gedient mit willger Hand.
Kyrieleis.

6 Ich hab den Nächsten nicht geliebt,
vielmehr geneidet und betrübt;
Zank, Hader, Streit gefangen an,
durch Zorn und Rachgier Sünd gethan.
Kyrieleis.

7 Ich hab unreine Lust gesucht,
nicht Heiligkeit geliebt und Zucht;
zum öftern auch in Trank und Speis
hindan gesetzet Maaß und Weis.
Kyrieleis.

8 Ich hab mein Amt nicht so verrichtt,
wie es erfordert meine Pflicht:
mit Unrecht Gut an mich gebracht,
den Armen nicht mit Hülf bedacht.
Kyrieleis.

9 Ich hab den Lästrer gern gehört,
nicht alls zum Besten vorgekehrt,
mich nicht beflissen jederzeit
der Wahrheit und Aufrichtigkeit.
Kyrieleis.

10 Ich hab mit Rechtes Schein und List
begehrt, was meines Nächsten ist,
was sich an Gütern bei ihm findt,
sein Amt, sein Haus, Land, Vieh Gesind.
Kyrieleis.

11 Ach starker und ewiger Gott,
wer Dich verachtt und Dein Gebot,
des Lohn ist Zorn und Ungenad,
bis in den dritten, vierten Grad.
Kyrieleis.

12 Der aber hat in tausend Glied
hie zu erwarten Gnad und Fried,
der Dich, Herr, liebt, und Dein Gesetz
hält über Lust und alle Schätz.
Kyrieleis.

13 Solch Vorsatz, leider! ist nicht hier,
es wohnet gar nichts Guts in mir:
ich habe nicht darnach getrachtt,
was Du gedräut und zugesagt.
Kyrieleis.

14 Mein Tichten ist von Jugend auf
sehr bös im ganzen Lebens-Lauf;
denn ich ganz von der Scheitel hin
verderbt bis auf die Fußsohl bin.
Kyrieleis.

*15 Wie nun ein Brunn sein Wasser quillt,
so hat mein Herz auch angefüllt
mein Thun und lassen allzumal
mit Sünd und Lastern ohne Zahl.
Kyrieleis.

*16 Wer merket auch, wie oft er fehlt,
bis sein Gewissen ihn drum quält:
sollt ich antworten vor Gericht,
ich könnt auf tausend eines nicht.
Kyrieleis.

17 Ach! Vater, sieh mein Elend an,
verzeihe mir, was ich gethan,
nimm weg durch Deine Güt und Huld
die schwere Straf, die ich verschuldt.
Kyrieleis.

18 Gedenk, daß Dein Sohn, Jesus Christ,
ein Fluch am Holze worden ist
für mich und meine Missethat,
die Er auf sich genommen hat.
Kyrieleis.

*19 Der neue Bund ist da gestift,
kein Fluch mich in demselben trifft:
er bringet Segn, Gnad, und dabei,
daß ich vom Sündendienst bin frei.
Kyrieleis.

20 Weil ich denn bin in Christo nun
geschaffen, gute Werk zu thun,
so gieb mir Deines Geistes Gab,
daß ich vom Bösen lasse ab.
Kyrieleis.

21 Daß ich nach Deinem Willen leb,
der Sünden-Lust stets widerstreb,
und darnach ringe fort und fort,
daß ich eingeh zur engen Pfort.
Kyrieleis.

*22 Gott Vater, hilf von deinem Thron,
hilf, o Herr Jesu, Gottes Sohn,
hilf, heilger Geist, und stärke mich,
daß ich dir diene williglich.
Kyrieleis.

Ich weiß es wird mein Ende kommen (supplement)

Here is my supplemental translation for the death hymn “Ich weiß es wird mein Ende kommen” (Salomo Franck, d. 1725), from Ev.-luth. Gsb #654, first appearing in the author’s Geist- und Weltliche Poesien (Jena, 1711). The translation by Winkworth of two stanzas was altered by herself, later altered further and augmented for the Ev. Luth. Hymnal (Ohio, 1888). Here I supply the remaining two stanzas, 2 and 4. The appointed melody is “Wer nur den lieben Gott läßt walten.”

 

I KNOW full well death must befall me;
I know not when, or where, or how:
It may be that my God will call me
Today, tomorrow, even now;
Ere yet this present hour is fled,
This living body may be dead.

2 By this I am no fear afforded,
But onward to my hour I press,
Assured ’tis in God’s hands recorded;
Death helps me but to blessedness;
When I the mortal put away,
I’ll put on what will last for aye.

3 I know,—God hath this knowledge given—
To me death is not death, indeed;
To me death is a gate to heaven,
A bound and end of all my need,
A gentle evening, peaceful, blest,
When I have passed from toil to rest.

4 Therefore I wait with heartfelt yearning,
Till from the world death summons me,
With joy that messenger discerning,
Who comes at Jesus’ kind decree,
My spirit from this world to lead
And on the heav’nly way to speed.

5 Lord, let my soul, with unfeigned gladness,
In living faith Thy call await
To leave its cave of sin and sadness,
And this vain world for heaven's estate;
O keep my heart prepared alway,
To lay aside this mortal clay.

6 Lord, grant that, by contrition riven,
My heart I daily offer Thee,
And let me close this life for heaven,
Sealed by Thy death and agony:
O let Thy death, with passion rife,
My comfort be, my balm and life.

7 Lord, daily let me die then, ever;
And at the last stand Thou by me,
That death may not from Thee sever,
But bring me nearer unto Thee!
Then welcome my last hour shall be,
When, where, and how it pleaseth Thee.

Translation sts. 2, 4 © 2023 Matthew Carver.
Translation sts 1, 3, 5–7, C. Winkworth, alt. / Ev. Luth. Hymnal 1888.

WINKWORTH/OHIO 1888

1 I know full well death must befall me;
I know not when, or where, or how:
It may be that my God will call me
To-day, to-morrow, even now;
Ere yet this present hour is fled,
This living body may be dead.

3 I know, --God hath this knowledge given--
To me death is not death, indeed;
To me death is a gate to heaven,
A bound and end of all my need,
A gentle evening, peaceful, blest,
When I have passed from toil to rest.

5 Lord, let my soul, with unfeigned gladness,
In living faith Thy call await
To leave its cave of sin and sadness,
And this vain world for heaven's estate;
O keep my heart prepared alway,
To lay aside this mortal clay.

6 Lord, grant that, by contrition riven,
My heart I daily offer Thee,
And let me close this life for heaven,
Sealed by Thy death and agony:
O let Thy death, with passion rife,
My comfort be, my balm and life.

7 Lord, daily let me die then, ever;
And at the last stand Thou by me,
That death may not from Thee sever,
But bring me nearer unto Thee!
Then welcome my last hour shall be,
When, where, and how it pleaseth Thee.

GERMAN

Ich weiß, es wird mein Ende kommen,
doch weiß ich nicht wo, wann, und wie?
Vielleicht werd ich der Welt entnommen
heut Abend, oder morgen früh:
vielleicht ist auch mein Ziel bestimmt,
eh diese Stund ein Ende nimmt.

2 Dies Alles kann mich nicht betrüben,
ich weiß gewiß, daß meine Zeit
in Gottes Händen angeschrieben,
der Tod hilft mir zur Seligkeit;
wenn ich, was sterblich, abgethan,
zieh ich, was unverweslich, an.

3 Ich weis auch Gottes theurem Worte,
daß mir der Tod nicht sei ein Tod;
er ist mir eine Himmelspforte,
ein Ziel und Ende meiner Noth,
ein sanfter Abend, der mich kühlt,
wenn ich des Tages Last gefühlt.

4 Drum wart ich auch mit Herzverlangen,
bis mich der tod der Welt entrückt:
mit Freuden will ich ihn empfangen,
weil Jesus diesen Boten schickt,
der aus der Welt führt meinen Geist
und mir den Weg zum Himmel weist.

5 Laß nur, Herr Jesu! meine Seele
im wahren Glauben rüstig stehn,
wenn sie aus dieser Jammerhöhle
und aus den schnöden Welt soll gehn:
Ach mache stets meine Herz bereit
zur Reife nach der Seligkeit!

6 Ach! hilf, daß ich durch stetig Büßen
dir opfre ein zerknirschtes Herz,
und laß meine Leben mich beschließen
auf deinen Tod und bittern Schmerz!
Ach! laß mir deine Todespein
mein Labsal,Trost und Leben sein,

7 Herr Jesu! laß mich täglich sterben,
steh mir in Todesnöthen bei:
damit der Tod mir kein Verderben,
vielmehr des Lebens Anfang sei!
so scheid ich fröhlich von der Welt,
wie, wo, und wann er dir gefällt!

"O Tod, wo ist dein Stachel nun"

I just wanted to let everyone know about a mostly forgotten translation of an Easter hymn, "O Tod, wo ist dein Stachel nun" (G. Weißel, 1644, alt. Hannover, 1657) that may be found in the Evangelical Lutheran Hymnal of the Ohio "Joint Synod" (published 1896). I have changed one word in stanza 2, last line: "crushed" was "bruised" in the English (though the German is zertreten, trampled). In KELG (Walther) it was sung to "Sei Lob und Ehr dem höchsten Gott" (others set it to "Es ist das Heil uns kommen her"), but it does have its own melody by Peter Sohr (1668), which I give here from the modern ELK:

O DEATH! where is thy cruèl sting?
O grave! where is thy power?
What harm to us can Satan bring
Though threatening to devour?
Thanks be to God! of glorious might,
Who conquered for us in this fight
Through Jesus Christ our Captain.

2. How fiercely the arch-serpent raged,
When Christ his might contested!
Yet Christ, though all hell’s hosts engaged,
Their prowess from them wrested.
And though the serpent pricked his heel,
Yet was he made its weight to feel;
His head is crushed forever.

3. And now Christ comes to life again,
And breaks death’s chain asunder;
He binds the foe, takes hell amain,
And wrests from him his plunder.
No power can stay the victor’s march,
He enters the triumphal arch:―
All must succumb before Him.

4. A death to death, to hell a pest,
Christ is become by dying;
Still Satan rages without rest
With murd’rous will and lying.
And since he cannot come with might,
He turns accuser, day and night;
But judged, he stands rejected.

5. The Lord’s right hand, His holy arm,
The victory retaineth;
No might of foes can Him disarm,
The glory His reinaineth.
Now sin and Satan, death and hell,
Are ousted from their citadel;
Their wrath is fierce, yet pow’rless.

6. The Christ of God, God’s Son, was dead;
But lo, He ever liveth!
As He arose, our living Head,
So life to us He giveth.
Now, who believes on Jesus’ Word
From death and grave shall be restored,
And live, e’en though he dieth.

7. He who with Christ arises here
By faith and daily sorrow,
The second death need never fear:
Heav’n’s his eternal morrow.
Death’s swallowed up in victory,
And life and immortality
Are brought to light by Jesus.

8. Forgiveness, peace, joy, righteousness,
On earth and there in heaven―
These are the Easter-spoils that bless
The hearts to Jesus given.
So we, His heirs, wait patiently
Until our bodies fashioned be
Like His own glorious body.

9. The ancient dragon, with his brood,
Is hurled to degradation;
They lay a mock, with scorn subdued,
When Christ rose with salvation.
The gain of our triumphant Head
Is ours, His members; hence we dread
No more the serpent’s power.

10. O Death! where is thy cruel sting?
O grave! where is thy power?
What harm to us can Satan bring,
Though threat’ning to devour?
Thanks be to God! of glorious might,
Who conquered for us in this fight
Through Jesus Christ our Captain.