Vierstimmiger gemischter Chor
Alto solo
Tenor solo
Recorder I + II
Violine I + II
Viola
Organl
Basso continuo

Come, O death, thou sweetest hour,
When my soul
Honey takes
From the mouth of lions; (1.)
Heartfelt is now my yearning
To have a blessed end,
For I am here surrounded
With sadness and distress.
Make sweet now my departure,
Tarry not,
Final light,
That I may embrace my Savior.
I wish to take departure
From this most wicked world,
I yearn for heaven's pleasure,
O Jesus, come then soon!

World, thy delights are weights,
Thy sweetness is to me as poison loathed,
Thy joyful light
Is my dire omen,
And where one once did roses pick
Are thorns of countless toll
To torment this my soul.
Now pallid death's become my rosy morning,
With it doth rise for me the sunlight
Of splendor and of heav'nly pleasure.
I sigh then from my heart's foundation
But for my final hour of dying.
It is my wish with Christ now soon to pasture,
It is my wish to leave this world behind me. (2.)

My desire
Is my Savior to embrace now
And with Christ full soon to be.
Though as mortal earth and ashes
I by death be ground to ruin,
Will my soul's pure luster shine
Even like the angels' glory.

Now firm is my resolve,
World, fare thee well!
And I have only this for comfort,
To die within the arms of Jesus:
He is my gentle sleep.
The cooling grave will cover me with roses
Till Jesus shall me re-awaken,
Till he his sheep
Shall lead forth to life's sweetest pasture,
That there e'en death from him not keep me.
So now break forth, thou happy day of death,
So strike then thou, the final hour's stroke!

If it is my God's intention,
I wish that my body's weight
Might today the earth make fuller,
And my ghost, my body's guest,
Life immortal take for raiment
In the sweet delight of heaven.
Jesus, come and take me hence!
May this be my final word.

The flesh in earth now lying
By worms will be consumed,
Yet shall it be awakened,
Through Christ be glorified,
And shine bright as the sunlight
And live without distress
In heav'nly joy and pleasure.
What harm to me, then, death?

Ephesians 3: 13-21

Luke 7: 11-17