Nr. 1 INTONATION
Naked I came out of my mother's womb,
Nr. 2 SOLI
Naked shall I also return,
the Lord has given, the Lord has taken away,
the name of the Lord be praised. (Job. 1:21)
Nr. 3 CHORUS
Lord God, Father in Heaven, have mercy on us.
Nr. 4 SOLI
Christ is my life, Death is my reward.
Behold, the Lamb of God,
that takes away the sins of the world.
(Phil 1:21/John 1:29)
Nr. 5 CHORUS
Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us.
Nr. 6 SOLI
If we live, we live in the Lord.
If we die, we die in the Lord;
therefore, whether we live or we die,
we are the Lord's. (Romans 14:8)
Nr. 7 CHORUS
Lord God, Holy Spirit, have mercy on us.
Nr. 8 INTONATION
For God so loved the world
that he gave his only begotten Son,
Nr. 9 SOLI
that all who believe in Him might not perish,
but rather have everlasting life. (John 3:16)
10. CHORUS
He spoke to His beloved Son:
The time of compassion is come,
Go forth, my heart's dear crown,
and be the salvation of the poor,
and rescue them from the misery of sin,
put bitter Death to death for them
and let them live with You.
(Martin Luther, 1523)
11. SOLI
The blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God,
washes us clean from all sin. (1 John I:7)
12. CHORUS
Through him we are forgiven our sins, and given life.
What great gifts, O God, shall we have in Heaven!
(Ludwig Hembold, 1575)
13. SOLI
Our transformation is in Heaven,
where we shall also await the Savior, Jesus Christ,
the Lord, who will transfigure our corruptible body
so that it becomes like his transfigured body.
(Phil. 3:20-21)
14. CHORUS
This life is but a vale of tears, fear, misery, affliction
everywhere. Brief is our stay here, full of toil, and who
thinks on it is always troubled.
(Johann Leon, 1582-89)
15. SOLI
Though your sins be as red as blood,
yet shall they be made white as snow;
though they be the color of roses,
yet shall they be made as wool.
(Isaiah I:18)
16. CHORUS
His word, his baptism, his communion
protect us from all mischance,
The Holy Spirit in faith
teaches us to trust in Him.
(Ludwig Hembold, 1575)
17. SOLO
Go forth, my people, into a chamber and lock the door
behind you, conceal yourself for a brief moment until
the anger passes.
(Isaiah 26:20)
18. SOLI
The souls of the righteous are in God's hand and no
torment touches them. To the foolish they will appear
as if they have died, and their departure will be
reckoned as a torment, and their going forth as a
ruination. But they are at peace.
(Wisdom of Solomon III:1-3)
19. SOLO
Lord, if only I have You, I ask nothing else from
Heaven or earth.
20. SOLI
If my body and soul alike languish then are You, O
God, always my heart's comfort and my portion.
(Psalm 73:23-26)
21. CHORUS
He is the Salvation and a blessed light for
to enlighten and guide those who know Him not;
He is the glory, honor, joy
and delight of His people Israel.
(Martin Luther, 1524)
22. SOLI
Our life lasts seventy years, or, at mo st, eighty years
and even when it passes sweetly so has it passed in toil
and hardship.
(Psalm 90:10)
23. CHORUS
Alas, how wretched is our time
here on this earth,
too soon must man lay himself down;
we must all die.
Here in this vale of tears
is toil and hardship everywhere,
even though one prosper.
(Johannes Gigas, 1566)
24. SOLO
I know that my Redeemer lives,
and that He will hereafter raise me
from the earth,
and thereupon I will put on my own
skin and will in my flesh see God.
(Job 19:25)
25. CHORUS
Since You rose from the dead
I will not remain in the grave
Your rising is my highest comfort;
You drive away the fear of death
for where You are, there shall I go,
that I may live and remain always
near You, therefore I go forth with joy.
(Nikolaus Herman, 1560)
26. SOLI
Lord, I will not let You go, unless I have Your
blessing.
(Genesis 32:26)
27. CHORUS
He said to me, "Hold fast to Me,
now you shall now prosper,
I give Myself up for you,
and I will struggle for you,
My life swallows up death,
My innocence takes away your sins
thus have you become blessed.
(Martin Luther, 1523)
II. MOTET, CHORUS
Lord, if only I have You, I ask nothing else from
Heaven or earth. If my body and soul alike languish
then are You, O God, always my heart's comfort and
my portion. (Psalm 73:23-26)
III. SONG OF SIMEON
CHORUS
Lord, now let Your servant depart in peace, as You
have said. For my eyes have seen Your Savior whom
You have prepared befor all peoples, a light to illumine
the nations, and for the glory of Your people Israel.
(Luke II:29-32)
SOLI
Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord, they rest
from their labors, and their works follow after them.
They are in the hand of the Lord, and no torment
touches them. Blessed are the dead who die in the
Lord. (Revelations: 14:13-14/Wisdom 3:1)
translation from German © 1998 by Grant E. Hicks