Laßt uns mit Ernst betrachtenden Grund der Seligkeit,und überaus groß achtenden, der uns hat befreitvon Sünden, Tod und Höllen,der sterbend auch zu fällenden Satan war bereit.Der Jesus ward genennet,als er empfangen ist,der wird von uns bekennet,daß er sei Jesus Christ,der uns macht frei von Sündenund läßt die Seel empfindenviel Trost zu jeder Frist.Er sollte Christus heißen,der Heiland aller Welt,und Satans Reich zerreißenbald als ein tapfrer Held,das Höllenschloß zerstören,dadurch den Himmel mehren,und thun, was ihm gefällt.Es sollte Jesus wehrender Sünd und Missethat,Gerechtigkeit bescherenund, als des Vaters Rath,im Sieg den Tod verschlingen,auch alles wiederbringen,was man verloren hatt'.Von Gott ist ihm gegebender Scepter in die Hand,sein Königreich darneben,daß er in solchem Standuns geistlich soll regierenund durch sein Leiden führenins wahre Freudenland.Er ist von Gott erkorenzum Hohenpriesterthum;er selbst hat ihm geschworen,daß er mit großen Ruhmein solches Amt bedienenund ewiglich soll grünenals Sarons schönste Blum.Er wird auch Herr genennet,dem alles unterthan,wodurch man frei bekennet,daß er ohn eiteln Wahnauch Gott sei nach dem Wesen,durch den wir blos genesenin dieser Unglücksbahn.Muß doch die Schrift bezeugen,daß er Jehova heißt,dem alle Knie sich beugen,den alle Welt hochpreist,ja, dem von allen Zungenwird Ehr und Dank gesungen,so weit die Sonne reist.Sein Stuhl muß ewig dauern,sein Scepter stehet fest,samt Sions starken Mauern;er ist aufs allerbestmit Freudenöl gezieret,hoch ist er aufgeführet,der nicht sein Volk verläßt.Ist Gott nun offenbaretim Fleisch, so gläuben wir,daß der so uns bewahretund segnet für und für,sei Gott und Mensch zu nennen;es lässet sich nicht trennender Gott und Mensch allhier.Durch Jesum ist bereitetdie ganze Welt, er hatden Himmel ausgebreitet,es ist durch seinen Rathder Engel Heer erschaffen,ein Heer, das ohne Waffenoft große Wunder that.Er, Jesus, kann erweckendie Todten kräftiglich;er weiß ein Ziel zu steckendem starken Wütherich;er prüfet Herz und Nieren,will in den Himmel führen,die selbst verleugnen sich.Laßt uns zusammentreten,des Allerhöchsten Sohnin Demuth anzubeten,denn ihm ist ja die Kronder Ehr und Macht gegeben.Gib, Herr, nach diesem Lebenauch uns den Gnadenlohn.Johann Rist, 1656.
My prose translation:
Let us consider with earnestnessThe foundation of salvationAnd extremely greatly respectThe one Who has freed usFrom sins, death, and hell,Who, dying, was even preparedTo cut down Satan.He was called Jesus,As He is received,Who will be known by us,That He would be Jesus ChristWho makes us free from sinsAnd lets the soul feelMuch comfort at every time.He should be called Christ,The Savior of all the world,And tear Satan's kingdom to pieces,Soon as a brave championDestroy the castle of hell,That way increasing HeavenAnd doing what pleases Him.Jesus should resistSin and misdeed,Give justiveAnd, according to the Father's advice,Devour death in victory,Also to bring back everythingThat one had lost.The scepter is given by GodInto His hand,His kingdom besides,That He in such a positionShould reign over us spirituallyAnd by His suffering lead [us]Into the true land of joy.He is chosen by GodFor the high priesthood;he Himself has sworn to HimThat with great gloryHe should serve such an officeAnd eternally flourishAs Sharon's most beautiful rose.He will also be called LordTo Whom everything is subjected,Through Whom one freely confessesThat He without vain delusionWould even be God according to His nature,Through Whom we just recoverIn this path of disaster.Yet the Scripture must testifyThat He is called Jehovah,To Whom all knees bend,Whom all the world highly priases,Yes, to Whom from all tonguesWill honor and thanks be sung,As far as the sun travels.His throne must last eternally;His scepter stands firmly,Along with Zion's strong walls;To the very best He isAnointed with oil of joy;He is led up high,Who does not leave His people.God is now manifestedIn the flesh, so we believeThat He preservesAnd blesses us forever;He would be called God and man;God and man do not let themselvesBe separated here.By Jesus is the whole worldPrepared; He hasSpread out Heaven;It is by His adviceThe army of angels is made,An army that without weaponsOften does great wonders.He, Jesus can reviveThe dead powerfully;He knows a goalTo place for the strong tyrant;He tests heart and kidneys,Wants to lead into HeavenThose who deny themselves.Let us walk togetherTo worship in humilityThe Son of the Most HighFor to Him indeedIs given the crown of honor and might.After this life, Lord, giveAlso to us the reward of mercy.Johann Rist, 1656.
There's quite a bit in the seventh verse (particularly near the end) and the tenth verse that I'm not too confident about.
The beginning of the sixth verse ("He is chosen by God / For the high priesthood") seems to refer to Hebrews 5. The title "Saron's schönste Blum" at the end of the verse is literally "Sharon's most beautiful flower," but since it's a reference to Song of Solomon 2:1 where the title is "a rose of Sharon," that's how I translated it: "Sharon's most beautiful rose."
Part of the eighth verse seems to be patterned on Philippians 2:10-11: "10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." The last line, though, seems to come from Psalm 113:3: "From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the LORD is to be praised!"
The first couple lines of the ninth verse ("His throne must last eternally; / His scepter stands firmly") bear some resemblance to Hebrews 1:8 (quoting Psalm 45:6): "But of the Son he says, 'Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.'"
I think the line "He tests heart and kidneys," in the twelfth verse refers to a Hebrew idiom. The last line of the verse ("Those who deny themselves") seems to come from Matthew 16:24 ("Then Jesus told his disciples, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.'") or Luke 9:23 ("And he said to all, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.'").
As far as I can tell, this hymn isn't present in The Lutheran Hymnal, Lutheran Worship, or The Lutheran Service Book. According to the Gesangbuch, the text is sung to the tune "Herr Christ, der einig G[ottes Sohn]." Here's the arrangement from Telemann's Fast allgemeines Evangelisch-Musicalisches Lieder-Buch: