Ein Lämmlein geht und trägt die Schuld [German translation]

1 A Lamb goes uncomplaining forth,

The guilt of all men bearing;

’Tis laden with the sin of earth,

None else the burden sharing:

It goes its way, grows weak and faint,

To slaughter led without complaint,

Its spotless life to offer;

Bears shame, and stripes, and wounds, and death,

Anguish and mockery, and saith,

“All this I gladly suffer.”

2 This Lamb is Christ, the soul’s great Friend

And everlasting Savior;

Him, Him God chose, sin’s reign to end

And bring us to His favor.

“Go forth, My Son!” He said, “and bail

The children, who are doomed to hell

But for Thine intercession.

The punishment is great, and dread

The wrath, but Thou Thy blood shall shed,

And save them from perdition.”

3 “Yea, Father, yea, most willingly

I’ll bear what Thou commandest;

My will conforms to Thy decree,

I do what Thou demandest.”

O wondrous Love! what hast Thou done!

The Father offers up His Son,

The Son content descendeth!

O Love! O Love! how strong art Thou!

In shroud and grave Thou lay’st Him low

Whose word the mountains rendeth!

4 Thou lay’st Him, Love, upon the cross,

With nails and spear Him bruising;

Thou slay’st Him as a lamb, His loss

From soul and body oozing;

From body ’tis the crimson flood

Of precious sacrificial blood,

From soul, the strength of anguish:

My gain it is; sweet Lamb to Thee

What can I give, whose love to me

For me doth make Thee languish?

5 Lord, all my life I’ll cleave to Thee,

Thy love fore’er beholding,

Thee ever, as Thou ever me,

With loving arms enfolding.

Yea, Thou shalt be my Beacon-light,

To guide me safe through death’s dark night,

And cheer my heart in sorrow;

Henceforth myself and all that’s mine

To Thee, my Savior, I consign,

From whom all things I borrow.

6 From morn till eve my theme shall be

Thy mercy’s wondrous measure;

To sacrifice myself to Thee,

My foremost aim and pleasure.

My stream of life shall flow for Thee,

Its steadfast current ceaselessly

In praise to Thee outpouring;

And all that Thou hast done for me,

I’ll treasure in my memory,

Thy gracious love adoring.

7 Enlarge, my heart’s own shrine, and swell,

To thee shall now be given

A treasure that doth far excel

The worth of earth and heaven.

Away with the Arabian gold,

With treasures of an earthly mold!

I’ve found a better jewel.

My priceless treasure, Lord my God,

Is Thy most holy, precious blood,

Which flows from wounds so cruel.

8 This treasure ever I’ll employ,

This ev’ry aid shall yield me;

In sorrow it shall be my joy,

In conflict it shall shield me;

In joy, the music of my feast,

And when all else has lost its zest,

This manna still shall feed me;

In thirst my drink; in want my food;

My company in solitude,

To comfort and to lead me.

9 Death’s poison cannot harm me now,

Thy blood new life bestoweth;

My Shadow from the heat art Thou,

When noonday’s sunlight gloweth.

When I’m by inward grief opprest,

On Thee my weary heart shall rest,

As sick men on their pillows.

Thou art my Anchor, when by woe

My bark is driven to and fro

On trouble’s restless billows.

10 And when Thy glory I shall see

And taste Thy kingdom’s pleasure,

Thy blood my royal robe shall be,

And joy beyond all measure;

It then shall be my glorious crown.

Thus I’ll appear before the throne

Of God, and need not hide me;

And shall, by Him to Thee betrothed,

By Thee in bridal garments clothed,

Stand as a bride beside Thee.

• Artist:Paul Gerhardt