Christian Classics
‹ The Chorale Book for England

Catherine Winkworth (trans. & ed.) · 101 of 213

96. Now lay we calmly in the grave

Burial of the Dead

(LXXIII.--"Nun lass't uns den Leib begraben.")

Original Tune.

Now lay we calmly in the grave This form, whereof no doubt we have That it shall rise again that day, In glorious triumph o'er decay.

And so to earth again we trust What came from dust, and turns to dust, And from the dust shall surely rise When the last trumpet fills the skies.

His soul is living now in God Whose his pardon hath bestow'd, Who through His Son 'd him here From bondage unto sin and fear.

His trials and his griefs are past, A blessed end is his at last; He bore Christ's yoke, and did His will, And though he died he liveth still.

He lives where none can mourn and weep, And calmly shall this body sleep Till God shall Death himself destroy And raise it into glorious joy.

He suffer'd pain and grief below, Christ heals him now from all his woe; For him hath endless joy begun; He shines in glory like the sun.

Then let us leave him to his rest, And homeward turn, for he is blest, And we must well our souls prepare, When death shall come, to meet him there.

So help us, Christ, our Hope in loss! Thou hast 'd us by Thy cross From endless death and misery; We praise, we bless, we worship Thee!

Nun lasst uns den Leib begraben