1. Now let us lay within the grave
   This form, whereof no doubt we have
   That on that Day it shall arise,
   With no corruption, to the skies.

2. ’Tis dust indeed, from dust it came
   And unto dust returns again,
   And yet from dust shall rise once more,
   When God’s last trumpet soundeth o’er.

3. Its soul forever lives in God,
   Who by sheer grace hath this bestowed
   And through His Son redeemed it here
   From bondage unto sin and fear.

4. Its trials and its griefs are past,
   Its woes are ended now at last.
   Christ’s yoke it bore with ready will,
   Has died, and yet is living still.

5. The soul doth live, no more shall weep;
   The body till that Day shall sleep
   When God shall death Himself destroy
   And raise it unto glorious joy.

6. It dwelt in suff’ring here below,
   But there it shall be free from woe
   When bliss eternal shall be won,
   To shine in glory like the sun.

7. Then let us leave it to its sleep
   And homeward turn, as watch we keep,
   With all due care while here we dwell,
   For death shall come to us as well.

8. So help us, Christ, our Hope in need,
   Who through His blood hath us redeemed
   From Satan’s pow’r, hell’s endless blaze;
   To Him all glory, laud, and praise.

Nun laßt uns den Leib begraben
Sts. 1–7, Michael Weisse, 1531; st. 8, attr. Martin Luther
Tr. Catherine Winkworth, alt.
Source: Evangelical Lutheran Hymn-Book, 1918, No. 538, alt.