O wie selig seid ihr doch irh Frommen

[153]Simon Dach.1650.

trans. by Catherine Winkworth, 1855

Oh how blessed, faithful souls, are ye,

Who have passed through death; your God ye see,

Escaped at last

From all the sorrows that yet hold us fast!

Here as in a prison we are bound,

Care and fear, and terrors hem us round,

And all we know

It is but toil and grief of heart below.

While that ye are resting in your home,

Safe from pain, all misery o'ercome,

No grief or cross

Can mix with yonder joys to work you loss.

Christ doth wipe away your every tear,

Ye possess what we but long for here,

To you is sung

The song that ne'er through mortal ears hath rung.

Who is there that would not gladly die,

Changing earth for such a home on high,

Or who would stay

To toil amid these sorrows night and day!

Come, O Christ, release us from our post,

Lead us quickly hence to yonder host,

Whose battle won,

Now drink in joy and bliss from Thee our Sun.

[5] See also from Christian Singers of Germany, "I fall asleep in Jesu's arms", "Rise again! yes, rise again wilt thou"; from Lyra Germanica, Second Series, At the Burial of the Dead, and "Who puts his trust in God most just".