Dear Christians, One and All, Rejoice

by Martin Luther

Translation from German by C. G. Haas, 1897 (d. 1928)

Dear Christian people all, rejoice,

Each soul with joy upraising.

Pour forth a song with heart and voice,

With love and gladness singing.

Give thanks to God, our Lord above,

Thanks for His miracle of love!

Dearly He hath redeemed us.

He spoke to His belovèd Son

With infinite compassion:

“Go hence, my heart’s most precious One,

Be to the lost Salvation;

Death, his relentless tyrant, stay,

And bear him from his sins away

With Thee to live forever!”

The Son came, saying: “Cling to Me,

Thy sorrows now are ending;

Freely I give Myself to thee,

Thy life with Mine defending;

For I am thine and thou art Mine,

And where I am there thou shalt shine,

The foe shall never reach us.”

“To heaven again I rise from hence,

High to my Father soaring,

The Master there to be, and thence

My Spirit on thee pouring;

In every grief to comfort thee,

And teach thee more and more of Me,

Into all truth still guiding.”

“What I have done and taught on earth,

Do Thou, and teach, none dreading;

That so God’s kingdom may go forth,

And His high praise be spreading;

And guard thee from the words of men,

Lest the great joy be lost again:

This my last charge I leave thee.”

Translation by Richard Massie (d. 1887)

Dear Christians, one and all rejoice,

With exultation springing,

And with united heart and voice

And holy rapture singing,

Proclaim the wonders God hath done,

How his right arm the victory won;

Right dearly it hath cost him.

Fast bound in Satan’s chains I lay,

Death brooded darkly o’er me;

Sin was my torment night and day,

Therein my mother bore me.

Deeper and deeper still I fell,

Life was become a living hell,

So firmly sin possessed me.

My good works could avail me naught,

For they with sin were stained;

Free-will against God’s judgment fought,

And dead to good remained.

Grief drove me to despair, and I

Had nothing left me but to die,

To hell I fast was sinking.

God saw, in his eternal grace,

My sorrow out of measure;

He thought upon his tenderness-

To save was his good pleasure.

He turned to me a Father’s heart-

Not small the cost-to heal my smart

He have his best and dearest.

He spake to His beloved Son:

’Tis time to take compassion;

Then go, bright Jewel of My crown,

And bring to man salvation;

From sin and sorrow set him free,

Slay bitter death for him, that he

May live with Thee forever.

The Son delighted to obey,

And born of virgin mother,

Awhile on this low earth did stay

That He might be my Brother.

His mighty power He hidden bore,

A servant’s form like mine He wore,

To bind the devil captive.

To me He spake: cling fast to Me,

Thou’lt win a triumph worthy;

I wholly give myself for thee;

I strive and wrestle for thee;

For I am thine, thou Mine also;

And where I am thou art. The foe

Shall never more divide us.

For he shall shed My precious blood,

Me of My life bereaving;

All this I suffer for thy good;

Be steadfast and believing.

My life from death the day shall win,

My righteousness shall bear thy sin,

So art thou blest forever.

Now to my Father I depart,

From earth to heaven ascending;

Thence heavenly wisdom to impart,

The Holy Spirit sending.

He shall in trouble comfort thee,

Teach thee to know and follow me,

And to the truth conduct thee.

What I have done and taught, do thou

To do and teach endeavor;

So shall my kingdom flourish now,

And God be praised forever.

Take heed lest men with base alloy

The heavenly treasure should destroy.

This counsel I bequeath thee.