Chorale Texts used in Bach's Vocal Works
Christe, du Lamm Gottes
Text and Translation of Chorale

Ref. in hymnals/hymn books: EG 190.2
Author: German Agnus Dei (mittelalterlich; Braunschweig, 1528)
Chorale Melody: Christe, du Lamm Gottes (Zahn 58) | Composer: Martin Luther (1528)
Theme:

Description:

"Christe, du Lamm Gottes" (Christ, you Lamb of God) is a Lutheran hymn, often referred to as the German Agnus Dei. Martin Luther derived the words as a translation of the Latin Agnus Dei from the liturgy of the mass, and the tune from an older model. The hymn was first published in 1528. It has been the basis for several musical settings by composers such as J.S. Bach, Felix Mendelssohn and Hessenberg. It appears in the current German hymnals, both the Protestant Evangelisches Gesangbuch (EG 190:2) and the Catholic Gotteslob (GL 208).
When Luther introduced the Reformation, he tried to keep much of the order of the mass, but in German. He published in 1526 Deutsche Messe, an alternative liturgy for a Gottesdienst (church service) in German, which was first sung in Advent of 1525 (See: Luther's Deutsche Messe, Other Liturgical Chorales). It did not contain the liturgical parts Credo and Agnus Dei as translations from the Latin, but different German hymns instead. The translation of the Agnus Dei would instead be sung during communion, alternatively "Jesus Christus, unser Heiland", which eventually was preferred as teaching more.
The hymn appeared with the tune first in Bugenhagen's Braunschweig order of church service, printed in Wittenberg in 1528. The number in the current Protestant hymnal Evangelisches Gesangbuch (EG) is 190:2. In the current Gotteslob, it appears as GL 208, with a slightly different melody.
Source: Wikipedia | IFPS

Vocal Works by J.S. Bach:

Chorale Christe, du Lamm Gottes (Mvt. 4) from Cantata BWV 23

Closing Chorale Christe, du Lamm Gottes (Mvt. 40) from Johannes-Passion BWV 245 (2nd version, 1725)

Vocal Works by J.S. Bach: BWV 23/4 (verses 1-3)

German Text (verses in bold print set by Bach)

English Translation

1. Christe, du Lamm Gottes,
der du trägst die Sünd' der Welt,
erbarm' dich unser!

Christ, you lamb of God,
you who take away the sins of the world.
have mercy on us!

2. Christe, du Lamm Gottes,
der du trägst die Sünd' der Welt,
erbarm' dich unser!

Christ, you lamb of God,
you who take away the sins of the world,
have mercy on us!

3. Christe, du Lamm Gottes!
der du trägst die Sünd' der Welt,
gib uns dein'n Frieden!

Christ, you lamb of God,
you who take away the sins of the world
grant us your peace.

Amen.

Amen.

Source of German Text: Hymnary.org | Die Christliche Liederdatenbank
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (September 2018)
English Translation by Francis Browne (June 2005)