Du Volk, das du getaufet bist.
Ye baptized people, one and all,
Who know your God in heaven,
Who have received a holy call,
To whom Christ’s name is given,
Do not forget, but ponder well,
The gifts that now within you dwell,
The blessings of baptism.
This washing cleanseth us from sin
And lends a sacred beauty,
It makes us white and pure within,
Incites to love and duty,
From Satan’s prison sets us free,
Enables us the sons to be
And heirs of God, our Father.
Our sinful nature is renewed,
The curse of God is lifted;
By choicest blessings thus endued
And with the Spirit gifted,
We unto sin are pledged to die
And by the pow’r of God on high
The gates of hell can conquer.
Here we with Jesus Christ are clad,
His righteousness receiving,
Which covers what in us is bad,
Our rescue thus achieving;
His holy blood, for sinners spilt,
Releases us from sin and guilt,
And we with God find favor.
O wondrous work, O sacred bath,
O water thou of blessing,
The world nowhere thy equal hath,
Such healing grace possessing.
Thou hast indeed a pow’r divine,
According to God’s own design,
And with His word connected.
Thou art no water such as we
Can draw from well or river.
In thee the life of God we see,
Who is of grace the Giver.
His Holy Spirit in thee dwells,
Who ev’ry evil lust dispels
That in our hearts would linger.
O Christians, bear this well in mind,
And thank the Lord sincerely
For all the gifts that here you find,
And that you prize so dearly.
When nothing else can soothe the soul,
These gifts lend comfort till the goal
Of life on earth appeareth.
Use well the things you have in store,
That are for you intended,
And, cleansed by Jesus, sin no more
Until life’s course is ended,
When you, in yonder happy land,
Before God’s radiant throne shall stand,
In heaven’s festal garments.
Paul Gerhardt, 1667.
Tr. H. Brueckner, 1918.