121. Dear Christians, Let Us All Rejoice

1 Dear Christians,let us all rejoice
And leave the haunts of sadness,
That we, as with a single voice,
My sound the note of gladness.
Yea, let us sing with one accord
And praise the wonders of our Lord,
Who with a price hath bought us.

2 In Satan's chains I fettered lay,
With naught but death before me.
My sin distressed me night and day,
In sin my mother bore me.
While thus my sin and guilt were rife,
There was no good in all my life;
So fully sin enthralled me.

3 My works no merit e'er possessed,
They had no pow'r to save me.
My will with nothing good was blest,
But prone to evil made me.
My fears increased till sheer despair
Left naught but death to be my share;
The pangs of hell I suffered.

4 But God beheld my wretched state
Before the world's foundation,
And, mindful of His mercies great,
He planned my soul's salvation;
A father's heart He turned to me,
And, from my woes to make me free,
Gave up His dearest Treasure.

5 He said to His beloved Son
In accents soft and tender:
'Tis time the battle should be won;
Thyself shalt Thou surrender.
O brightest Jewel of My crown,
Do Thou to wretched man go down,
Both sin and death to conquer.

6 The Son obeyed the Father's voice,
And, born of virgin mother,
He of His own free will and choice
Became my Friend and Brother.
He hid His power from Satan well,
That He the crafty foe might fell
And bring hims low forever.

7 He said to me: Do not despair,
My help I freely offer;
Thy misery I came to share,
Myself for thee I proffer.
Thou shalt be Mine as I am thine,
My love shall e'er thy soul entwine,
The foe shall not divide us.

8 The foe will shed My precious blood
Though ne'er his aim achieving;
I but endure it for thy good,
From death thy soul relieving.
My life shall swallow death for aye,
My innocence thy guilt shall pay;
Thy faith in Me shall save thee.

9 To heaven I again ascend,
There with the Father dwelling;
To thee I strength and comfort lend,
Thy sorrow thus dispelling.
The Spirit I will send to thee,
Who shall thy faithful Teacher be,
That thou mayst truly know Me.

10 What I on earth have done and taught
Shall be Thy guide in teaching;
So shall My kingdom's works be wrought
By thy pure life and preaching.
Take heed lest men with base alloy
The treasures of My truth destroy;
This is My final warning.

Text Information
First Line: Dear Christians, let us all rejoice
Title: Dear Christians, Let Us All Rejoice
Translator: H. Brueckner (1923)
Author: Martin Luther (1523)
Meter: 8 7 8 7 8 8 7
Language: English
Publication Date: 1930
Topic: The Means of Grace: Faith and Justification
Tune Information
Name: LUTHER'S HYMN
Meter: 8 7 8 7 8 8 7
Key: F Major
Source: German, 1523



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