Near the tomb where Je­sus slept,
Roman guards their night-watch kept,
Pacing to and fro alone,
By the close­ly seal­èd stone.

Refrain

Christ! Thou Con­quer­or! All hail!
Guard and stone can naught avail!
Death is slain in mor­tal strife;
Hail the Prince and Lord of Life!

In the dark­some mid­night, lo!
Hark! an earth­quake rolls be­low!
Sign of dead­ly con­flict o’er,
Death de­spoiled for­ev­er­more!

Refrain

That which by the cave-mouth lay,
Angel hands have rolled away;
And the Lord, His three days sped,
Comes tri­um­phant from the dead!

Refrain

O! the breath­less fear which fell
On the guards no tongue may tell;
Prostrate all, in sore dis­may,
As He rose, and passed away!

Refrain

Christ, Thou Vic­tor o’er the tomb,
Take us in the Day of Doom,
Take us to Thine own dear side,
At the last great East­er-tide!

Christ! Thou Con­quer­or! all hail!
Let not death o’er us pre­vail:
Help us in our mor­tal strife,
Bring us to the land of life!