Wir Christenleuthabn jetzund Freud,weil uns zu Trost ist Christus Mensch geboren,hat uns erlöst,wer sich des tröstund gläubets fest, soll nicht werden verloren.Ein Wunderfreud,Gott selbst wird heutein wahrer Mensch von Maria geboren;ein Jungfrau zartsein Mutter ward,von Gott dem herren selbst dazu erkoren.Die Sünd macht Leid,Christus bringt Freud,weil er zu uns in diese Welt gekommen,mit uns ist Gottnun in der Noth,wer ist, der jetzt uns Christen kann verdammen?Drum sag ich DankMit dem GesangChristo, dem Herrn, der uns zu gut Mensch worden,daß wir durch ihnnun all los seinder Sündenlast und unträglicher Bürden.Halleluja,gelobt sei Gott!singen wir all aus unsers Herzens Grunde;denn Gott hat heutgemacht solch Freud,der wir vergessen solln zu keiner Stunde.Caspar Fugger, + 1617.
My prose translation:
We Christian peopleNow have joyBecause for us as comfort is Christ born as man,Has redeemed us,Who is consoled by thisAnd believes it firmly should not be lost.A wonderful joy,God Himself to-day becomesA true man, born of Mary;A gentle virginBecame His mother,Chosen by God the Lord Himself for this.Sin makes suffering,Christ brings joy,Because He is come to us in this world,God is with us,Now in the distress,Who is it who can now condemn us Christians?Therefore I say thanksWith the songTo Christ, the Lord, Who for our good became manSo that we through HimAre now all ridOf the burden of sin and the unbearable load.Hallelujah,Praised be God!Sing we all out of the bottom of our hearts;For God has to-dayMade such joyThat we at no moment should forget.Caspar Fugger, + 1617.
The end of the third verse ("Who is it who can now condemn us Christians?") seems to be an echo of part of Romans 8:34: "Who is to condemn?"
This hymn appears as "We Christians May Rejoice Today" in The Lutheran Hymnal (#107). The Gesangbuch notes that the text is sung to "its own melody," but TLH pairs it with "O Jesu Christ, dein Kripplein."