Scripture Verse

Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace. Luke 2:29

Introduction

portrait
Catherine Winkworth
(1827–1878)

Words: Paul Eb­er (1511–1569). Ap­peared in Je­re­mi­as We­ber’s Ge­sang­buch (Leip­zig, Ger­ma­ny, 1638), page 797 (In Chris­ti Wund­en schlaf ich ein), marked as An­oth­er (the hymn im­me­di­ate­ly pre­ced­ing it was at­trib­ut­ed to Eb­er). Trans­lat­ed from Ger­man to Eng­lish by Ca­ther­ine Wink­worth, Chris­tian Sing­ers of Ger­ma­ny (Lon­don: Mac­Mil­lan, 1869), page 121 (I fall asleep in Je­su’s arms). Von Zin­zen­dorf used the lines be­gin­ning Ja Chris­ti Blut und Ge­rech­tig­keit in the first stan­za of his well known hymn.

Music: Va­ter un­ser Geist­liche Lied­er (Leip­zig, Ger­ma­ny: 1539). Har­mo­ny by Jo­hann S. Bach, 1726 (🔊 pdf nwc).

portrait
Paul Eber (1511–1569)

Lyrics

I fall asleep in Je­sus’ wounds,
There par­don for my sins ab­ounds;
Yea, Jesus’ blood and right­eous­ness
My jew­els are, my glor­ious dress.
In these be­fore my God I’ll stand
When I shall reach the heav’n­ly land.

With peace and joy I now de­part;
God’s child I am with all my heart.
I thank thee, Death, thou lead­est me
To that true life where I would be.
So cleansed by Christ, I fear not death.
Lord Je­sus, strength­en Thou my faith.