Scripture Verse

That through death He might destroy him that had the power of death. Hebrews 2:14

Introduction

Words: Ve­nan­ti­us For­tu­na­tus (ca. 530–609) (Pan­ge lin­gua glo­ri­osi proe­li­um cer­ta­mi­nis). Trans­lat­ed from La­tin to Eng­lish by Au­gus­tus Nel­son.

Music: Upp, Min Tun­ga Swed­ish Ko­ral­bok, 1697 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tune:

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

portrait
Venantius Fortunatus
(530–609)

Lyrics

Praise the Sav­ior now and ever;
Praise Him, all be­neath the skies;
Prostrate ly­ing, suff’ring, dy­ing
On the cross, a sac­ri­fice.
Vict’ry gain­ing, life ob­tain­ing,
Now in glo­ry He doth rise.

Man’s work fail­eth, Christ’s avail­eth;
He is all our right­eous­ness;
He, our Sav­ior, has for­ev­er
Set us free from dire dis­tress.
Through His mer­it we inherit
Light and peace and hap­pi­ness.

Sin’s bonds se­vered, we’re de­li­vered,
Christ has bruised the ser­pent’s head;
Death no long­er is the strong­er,
Hell it­self is cap­tive led.
Christ has ris­en from death’s pri­son,
O’er the tomb He light has shed.

For His favor, praise for­ev­er,
Unto God the Fa­ther sing;
Praise the Sav­ior, praise Him ever,
Son of God, our Lord and king.
Praise the Spir­it, through Christ’s mer­it,
He doth us sal­va­tion bring.