Choir for 4 voices
Soprano solo
Tenor solo
Bass solo
Trumpet
Recorder I + II
Oboe I + II
Violin I + II
Viola
Basso continuo

Lord Jesus Christ, true man and God,
Thou, who bore torture, fear and scorn,
For me on cross at last didst die
And me thy Father's grace didst win,
I beg by thy most bitter pain:
For all my sins be merciful.


When ev'rything at that last hour strikes terror,
And when a chilling sweat of death
My limbs, all stiff with torpor, moistens,
When this my tongue can nought but feeble sighing speak,
And this my heart doth break:
Enough is it that faith doth know
That Jesus by me stands,
Who with great patience to his passion goes
And through this toilsome way doth lead me also
And my repose is now preparing.

My soul shall rest in Jesus' bosom,
When earth doth this my body hide.
Ah, call me soon, O deathly tolling,
I am at dying undismayed,
For me my Jesus shall awake.

When once at last the trumps have sounded,
And when the world's own frame
With heaven's firm foundation
Is smashed and sunk in ruin,
Then think on me, my God, with favor;
When once thy thrall before thy court doth stand,
Where e'en my thoughts seek to accuse me, (1.)
Then may'st thou wish alone,
O Jesus, my defense to be
And to my spirit speak with comfort:
In truth, in truth, I say to you:
When heaven and earth shall in fire have perished,
Yet shall all believers eternally prosper. (2.)
They will not come into the court (3.)
And death eternal shall not taste. (4.)
But ever cleave,
My child, to me:
I'll break with my mighty and rescuing hand
The violent bonds of encompassing death.

Ah, Lord, forgive us all our sins,
Help us with patience to abide
Until our hour of death shall come,
And help our faith e'er steadfast be,
Thy word to trust tenaciously,
Until we rest in blessed sleep.

1 Corinthians 13: 1-13