Jesus Christ, Our Blessed Savior

Jesus Christ, our blessèd Savior,
Turned away God’s wrath forever;
By His bitter grief and woe
He saved us from the evil Foe.

As His pledge of love undying
He, this precious food supplying,
Gives His body with the bread
And with the wine the blood He shed.

Whoso to this board repaireth
May take heed how he prepareth;
For if he does not believe,
Then death for life he shall receive.

Praise the Father, who from Heaven
Unto us such food hath given
And, to mend what we have done,
Gave into death His only Son.

Thou shalt hold with faith unshaken
That this food is to be taken
By the sick who are distressed,
By hearts that long for peace and rest.

Christ says, “Come, all ye that labor,
And receive My grace and favor;
They who feel no want nor ill
Need no physician’s help nor skill.

“Useless were for thee My Passion
If thy works thy weal could fashion.
This feast is not spread for thee
If thine own savior thou wilt be.”

If thy heart this truth professes,
And thy mouth thy sin confesses,
His dear guest thou here shalt be,
And Christ Himself shall banquet thee.

Author: Johann Huss

Year: 1415

This is an English translation of the medieval Bohemian hymn 'Jesus Christus, unser Heiland' (also known as 'Jesus Christ, unser Heiland, der von uns den Gotteszorn wandt'). The original text is traditionally attributed to the Czech reformer Jan Hus (Johann Huss), who was executed in 1415. The hymn was later adapted and translated into German by Martin Luther (who published it in 1524) and subsequently rendered into English; the specific wording here matches common Lutheran hymnals.