Easter Hymn

Jesus lives, and with Him I;
Whence, O death, is fright betaken?
Jesus lives, and so shall I
At His call from death awaken.
He in light hath clothed me hence;
This shall be my confidence.

Jesus lives, and reigns supreme,
All His Father to Him giving.
I shall also be with Him,
Ever reigning, ever living.
What God saith, He doth commence;
This shall be my confidence.

Jesus lives; who now despairs
Casteth on his Lord aspersion;
Grace He saith He freely bears
At the sinner's true conversion.
God His mercy ne'er repents;
This shall be my confidence.

Jesus lives; I give my soul
To the One that gives salvation.
He shall keep my spirit whole,
Grant resistance in temptation,
In all weakness give defence;
This shall be my confidence.

Jesus lives, and this I know:
Naught my Lord and me shall sever,
Neither weal nor deathly woe,
Nor what darkness may endeavor.
He for all doth pow'r dispense;
This shall be my confidence.

Jesus lives, and now is death
But to life emancipation.
When I taste my final breath,
What may speak my consolation?
Just to say with faith immense,
"Lord, O Lord, my confidence!"

—Christian F. Gellert, on John 14:19; trans. Zachary Pletan


Tune: "Jesus, meine Zuversicht," Johann Crüger; har. Johann Sebastian Bach.

About the Author

Christian Fürchtegott Gellert (1715–1769) was a student of theology denied the pastorate, due to a combination of the Lutheran Church's restriction on preaching from manuscripts and his own poor memory. Instead, he became a professor of philosophy at the University in Leipzig. His hymns were speedily adopted in both Lutheran and Catholic churches throughout Germany, and most English hymnals include a translation of this hymn (there are several).

Thoughts

So, yeah, it's not Easter. This is one of my favorite hymns, however, and set to one of my favorite tunes (the only one I've written to twice, truth be told). There are already several translations out there, the best in my opinion being the one by Frances Cox, but as soon as I saw the first line, I thought I could do better. I will leave it to you, O reader, to determine which is better.

I cannot leave without saying a word about the tune. It is one of my favourites, and has been ever since I first heard it to this hymn. And when a tune is German, I have to stop and see if Bach harmonized it; if he did, I can count on enjoying it. This tune is no exception.