Scripture Verse

For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21

Introduction

Words: At­trib­ut­ed to Si­mon Graf, 1603 (Chris­tus, der ist mein Le­ben). How­ev­er, Ju­li­an, p. 233, states Graf was on­ly six years old in 1603. Trans­lat­ed from German to Eng­lish by Her­mann H. M. Brueck­ner, 1925. Ap­peared in the Am­eri­can Lu­ther­an Hym­nal, ed­it­ed by Em­ma­nu­el Pop­pen (Co­lum­bus, Ohio: Lu­ther­an Book Con­cern, 1930), number 295.

Music: Chris­tus, der ist mein Le­ben Mel­chi­or Vul­pi­us, 1609 (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pic­ture of Graf, Brueck­ner or Vul­pi­us (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

For me to live is Je­sus,
For me to die is gain;
I yield to Him most glad­ly
And leave this world of pain.

In peace this life de­part­ing,
To yon­der realms I soar,
That I with Christ, my bro­ther,
May dwell for­ev­er­more.

My toil and cares are end­ed,
My trou­bles all must cease,
For in Thy wounds, O Je­sus,
My soul has found its peace.

Then let me close my eye­lids
And fall asleep in Thee;
Let Thy good will and coun­sel
Be thus ful­filled in me.