Es war ein wunderlicher Krieg

One of my favorite pieces of music and words. Luther/Bach
(I've sung the cantata in youth choir under Cantor Miller in Bensheim and we took it on tour in Great Britain, in 1978; looong time ago.)



There are other versions on Youtube. But I like this one; it seems less artistic than the others, but it makes it feel more like you are focusing on the text.

"Es war ein wunderlicher Krieg, da Tod und Leben rungen.
Das Leben das behielt den Sieg, es hat den Tod verschlugen.
Die Schrift hat verkuendiget das, wie ein Tod den andern frass.
Ein Spott aus dem Tod ist worden.
Halleluia."

"It was a strange war, when death and life were wrestling.
Life obtained the victory; it devoured death.
Scripture has proclaimed, how one death devoured another.
Death has become a ridicule (joke, laugh).
Halleluia."
(my translation, direct)

From English hymn book:
"It was a strange and dreadful strife when life and death contended;
The victory remained with life, the reign of death was ended.
Holy Scripture plainly saith that death is swallowed up by death,
Its sting is lost forever."
Alleluia!