1. You people who now are baptized God's gracious love surrounds you. By Christ's Name you're now recognized; Ponder what happened to you: Whose work was it which fashioned you, Whose inborn nature that He slew, When you first gained His promise?
2. Before held in your mother's arm, From your time of conception, Quite hostile to the Law's alarms— Let there be no deception. A sinner born of sinner's seed; Still God Himself for you would bleed, He took on flesh to save you.
3. Your soul and body turned within, Sin filled you like a poison. Concern for neighbor paperthin; God's love was simply foreign. Then raised by God the Lord of Life To glow in His eternal Light Your robe of white is gleaming.
4. The majesty that terrifies Was all God's presence brought you. Your fault you could not rectify; Anxiety consumed you. A slave of sin and Satan held Trapped in a prison bound for hell Death was your only future.
5. Then washed clean in this holy flood, The water of Baptism; Instilled faith in Christ's holy blood Brought to the Father's Kingdom, Your heart rebuilt within your breast, New nature filled with righteousness, Your every sin forgiven!
6. It washes all your sins away And makes you pure and holy. Hell's hold on you was lost that day, God's freedom for the lowly. You are now truly God's dear child An heir of heaven undefiled With crown to cast before Him.
7. Your nature lost in Adam's fall, Corrupt through generations, Refreshed now in the waterfall- A perfect new creation! The death of death before your eyes: God's power must be recognized. Hell's demons lie defeated!
8. Now we can gladly draw to Christ And boldly ask His blessing Because of Jesus' sacrifice, Our sins upon Him pressing. The Father looks on us and sees Christ's holiness and His good deeds: White robes giv'n by His merit.
9. This holy bath ... What pow'r displays! What wondrous grace-filled cleansing; None on their own can e'er appraise The value of their raising. The Word of God in simple form Can calm the tempest and the storm. It brings peace to your spirit.
10. Plain water cannot wash our sin Nor clean our inward spirit, But water with God's promise can Bring all the Father wills it. The water that floods over you From God's command has strength imbued. His Name is placed upon you.
11. Too precious to repay somehow, Just grateful thanks we offer. Christ's work has been delivered now To you through Word and water. Nothing but Christ's atoning work In you could kill death's ugly smirk You're now refreshed and holy.
12. Now gladly live as God's dear child Proclaim to all His Gospel Shine to the world; be undefiled... A beacon to all people. Till called home to eternal joy With new song that we'll all employ To cast our crowns before Him.
Words: Paul Gerhardt, 1667. Translated by Brian J. Dumont, March 2011.
Music: 'Es ist Gewisslich an der Zeit' from Klug's Geistliche Lieder, Wittenberg, 1533.
Setting: Michael Praetorius, 1610.
copyright: Words: Copyright 2011, Brian J. Dumont. These lyrics may be freely reproduced or published for Christian worship, provided they are not altered, and this notice is on each copy. All other rights reserved.Music and Setting: public domain. This score is a part of the Open Hymnal Project, 2011 Revision.
| Pdf Image of Score | Gif Image of Score | Midi Audio of Tune | Mp3 Audio of Tune | Abc source |
