Wir danken dir, o Jesu Christ.
We thank Thee, Jesus Christ, our Lord,
For all the help Thou dost afford.
Thou art the Lamb for sinners slain,
And this is our eternal gain.
Thy holy supper doth prepare
For us a precious fountain where
Salvation flows for ev’ry soul,
To make the wounded spirit whole.
This covenant Thou, Lord, didst make:
“Receive my body and partake
Of mine own blood which flowed for thee,
That thou a ransomed soul mightst be.”
I eat Thy body, which for me
Was made to die upon the tree,
I drink Thy blood and thus receive
Life for my soul, as I believe.
And though I die, yet shall I live;
Thy body and Thy blood will give
To me eternal life above,
The fruit of Thy redeeming love.
Let me be numbered with the blest,
Who on Thy loving bosom rest,
Thy worthy guest, to sup with Thee
And praise Thy name eternally.
Nicolaus Selnecker, 1572.
Tr. H. Brueckner, 1918.