O Traurigkeit, O Herzeleid

[157]Johann von Rist

trans. by Catherine Winkworth, 1869

O darkest woe!

Ye tears, forth flow!

Has earth so sad a wonder?

God the Father's only Son

Now lies buried yonder.

O son of man,

It was the ban

Of death on thee that brought Him

Down to suffer for thy sins,

And such woe hath wrought Him.

Behold thy Lord,

The Lamb of God,

Blood-sprinkled lies before thee,

Pouring out His life that He

May to life restore thee.

O Ground of faith,

Laid low in death;

Sweet lips now silent sleeping!

Surely all that live must mourn

Here with bitter weeping.

Yea, blest is he

Whose heart shall be

Fixed here, who apprehendeth

Why the Lord of Glory thus

To the grave descendeth.

O Jesu blest,

My help and rest!

With tears I pray, Lord hear me,

Make me love Thee to the last,

And in death be near me.