In Peace and Joy I Now Depart
In peace and joy I now depart
In Peace and Joy I Now Depart is a hymn text by Simeon (1524) in L.M. (8.8.8.8) meter. Translated by composite English text. Found in elw 440, lbw 349, lsb 938, lw 185. Sung to MIT FRIED UND FREUD.
This hymn expresses the Lutheran theology of justification by faith as Simeon departs in peace, having seen God's salvation accomplished in Christ. It demonstrates the unity of Law and Gospel, Old Testament promise and New Testament fulfillment, with Christ as the light of the nations and glory of Israel.
History & Background
Martin Luther paraphrased the Song of Simeon (Nunc Dimittis) as a German hymn for the Feast of Presentation around 1524. The original German text 'Mit Fried und Freud ich fahr dahin' became one of Luther's most significant compositions for liturgical use.
Hymnal Appearances
- Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 440
- Lutheran Book of Worship — 349
- Lutheran Service Book — 938
- Lutheran Worship — 185
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 137
Translation
Bulletin Note
Written by Simeon (c. 1524), this hymn based on Luke 2:29-32 captures the ancient canticle's promise of salvation revealed to Jews and Gentiles alike—comfort for pilgrims and those approaching death.
Preaching Connection
This hymn embodies the Law-Gospel movement perfectly: from human mortality and need to the Gospel's gift of Christ, the light whose salvation satisfies every longing of the human heart.
Catechism & Confessional Connections
- Of Justification Augsburg Confession
Stanza Arc
The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: From personal surrender to Christ's lordship, through patient faith and witness of salvation, to proclamation of Christ as the promised light for all nations
Background Research
Luther's Nunc Dimittis (Luke 2:29–32, Simeon's song, which he knew from Compline), written spring 1524 for the Purification/Presentation (2 February). It was printed that year in Walter's Wittenberg choir book; Wikipedia says not in the Erfurt Enchiridion, so the index note needs correcting. It became the Lutheran hymn for the dying, and Luther put it in his 1542 funeral hymn collection. Death as a peaceful departure, 'as God has promised me', because the dying believer has seen the Saviour, so it fits both Candlemas and funerals. The melody is credited to Luther but may be older. Bach: chorale cantata BWV 125 (Purification 1725), the Orgelbüchlein prelude BWV 616, and stanzas in BWV 106 (Actus tragicus), 95 and 83. Buxtehude: 'Mit Fried und Freud' (BuxWV 76), the funeral music for Menno Hanneken, expanded with a lament on his own father's death (1674).
Sources: Wikipedia 'Mit Fried und Freud ich fahr dahin'.
In the Church Year
Suggested in the one-year series
- Christmas 1 (6×)
- Presentation of Our Lord (2×)
- Trinity 16 (2×)
- Christmas 2 (1×)
Suggested in the three-year series
- Christmas 1 (1×)
- Presentation of Our Lord (1×)
From LCMS Worship's published hymn suggestions, 2014–2026. The count is how many of those yearly lists suggested this hymn for that day.
Overview
Luther's metrical version of the Nunc Dimittis, the Song of Simeon (Luke 2:29-32), from the hymnals of 1524. It was written for the Purification of Mary / Presentation of Our Lord (February 2), and quickly became the Lutheran funeral hymn par excellence. Simeon holds the Christ child and says he can die in peace: death is but sleep (st. 1); Christ, whom God has let him see, is his Life and help in dying (st. 2); God has set him forth as salvation for all nations by the Word (st. 3); he is the Light of the Gentiles and Israel's glory (st. 4). The hymn teaches the Lutheran art of dying: peace in death comes from having seen Christ, now in Word and Sacrament.
Central theme: Dying in peace and joy because faith has seen God's salvation in Christ
Structure
Four stanzas in Luther's distinctive irregular meter (7.4.7.4.7.7). St. 1-2 personal (death and Christ my Life); st. 3-4 universal (salvation for all nations, light to the Gentiles, glory of Israel), following Luke 2:29-32.
Law & Gospel Shape
Gospel throughout: death, the Law's last enemy, is turned into peaceful sleep by Christ.
Confessional Connections
Death as sleep for believers (Luther's sermons; AC XVII on the resurrection). Christ 'wrought this work for me' — salvation outside ourselves (extra nos; AC IV). The Word as the means by which Christ is set forth to all nations (AC V). Seeing Christ in the means of grace: Lutherans sing the Nunc Dimittis after the Lord's Supper because the communicant has 'seen' salvation.
Liturgical Use (Study Notes)
The Presentation of Our Lord (Feb. 2); funerals; post-Communion canticle; Compline/Evening Prayer; Sunday after Christmas (Luke 2:33-40).
Historical Notes
Published in 1524 (Erfurt Enchiridion and Walter's Wittenberg Gesangbüchlein). Bach based Cantata 125 on it and quoted it in the Actus Tragicus (BWV 106). Bacon's translation dates from 1884.
About the Tune
MIT FRIED UND FREUD (Walter's Geistliches Gesangbüchlein, 1524), probably by Luther.
Scripture References
Luke 2:25-35 Luke 2:29-32 John 11:11-13 1 Thess 4:13-14 John 11:25-26 Phil 1:21-23 Isa 52:10 Isa 49:6 Isa 9:2 Rom 10:17 Isa 42:6 Ps 3:3
Stanza by Stanza
I now depart in peace and joy as God disposes, for my heart is full of comfort, gently resting; so the Lord has promised me, and death is only a sleep.
Simeon's 'Lord, now you let your servant depart in peace, according to your word' (Luke 2:29). Luther adds 'joy' ('Fried und Freud'). Death happens 'at God's disposing' — it is not chance but the Father's ordering (Ps 31:15; Ps 90:3). The heart is 'full of comfort' because of a promise: 'so the Lord hath promised me' — Simeon was promised he would not die before seeing the Lord's Christ (Luke 2:26). The final line is classic Luther: 'death is but a slumber' (Der Tod ist mir Schlaf worden) — Jesus calls the death of believers sleep (John 11:11; Mark 5:39; 1 Thess 4:14), because resurrection follows. The Christian dies 'according to the Word,' and the Word removes terror.
- Scripture
- Luke 2:26, 29, Ps 31:15, Ps 4:8, John 11:11-13, Mark 5:39, 1 Thess 4:13-14
- Imagery & language
- Departing like a journey; death as sleep.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — death's terror removed by promise.
- Connection to previous
- Opening, paraphrasing Luke 2:29.
Christ has done this work for me, my faithful Savior, whom you have let my eyes see by your favor; now I know he is my Life, my help in need and in dying.
'Mine eyes have seen thy salvation' (Luke 2:30): salvation is a person, Christ. Luther stresses 'for me' and that Christ 'wrought this work' — salvation is accomplished outside us, by him (extra nos). Even the seeing is 'by Thy favor' — faith is God's gift. 'He is my Life' (John 11:25; Col 3:4) — therefore death cannot hold the believer. 'My Help in need and dying' anticipates the old Lutheran ars moriendi: in the hour of death, the Christian looks not to his works but to Christ. Simeon held Christ in his arms; we receive him in Word and Sacrament, and so the Church sings the Nunc Dimittis after Communion.
- Scripture
- Luke 2:30, Gal 2:20, John 11:25-26, Col 3:4, Phil 1:21, Ps 46:1, Eph 2:8
- Imagery & language
- Eyes seeing; faithful Savior.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — Christ my Life and help in death.
- Connection to previous
- Gives the ground for peace in st. 1.
You have set him forth to all as their great Salvation and called the earth, every nation, to his kingdom, by your dear and wholesome Word sounding in every place.
Luke 2:31: 'which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples.' Luther widens the personal to the universal: the salvation Simeon held is for every nation (Isa 52:10). Then a typically Lutheran addition: the means by which the nations are called is 'Thy dear and wholesome Word, in every place resounding.' God calls to his kingdom through the preached Gospel (Rom 10:17; AC V). 'Wholesome' (heilsam) means saving and healing. The Reformation's rediscovery of the Word's power is sung here in a canticle.
- Scripture
- Luke 2:31, Isa 52:10, Rom 10:14-18, Ps 19:4, Mark 16:15, Col 1:6
- Imagery & language
- The Word resounding everywhere.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — universal call through the Word.
- Connection to previous
- From personal salvation (2) to salvation for all.
He is the hope and saving light of darkened lands; by him those who lived in night are fed and enlightened; he is Israel's praise and bliss, their joy, reward and glory.
Luke 2:32: 'a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel' — from Isa 42:6, 49:6. The Gentiles are 'lands benighted,' those 'who dwelt in night' (Isa 9:2), and Christ both lights and 'feeds' them — Luther's addition hints at the Word as food (Matt 4:4) and at the Supper. To Israel, Christ is 'Praise and Bliss… Joy, Reward, and Glory' — the fulfillment of everything Israel hoped for. In Christ, Jew and Gentile are one. The hymn of dying ends with the whole world lit by Christ.
- Scripture
- Luke 2:32, Isa 42:6, Isa 49:6, Isa 9:2, Matt 4:4, Gen 15:1, Rom 15:8-12
- Imagery & language
- Light in darkened lands; feeding; Israel's glory.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — light to Gentiles, glory to Israel.
- Connection to previous
- Completes Luke 2:32.
Themes
redemption through Christ peace and assurance messianic fulfillment faithful old age death and eternal life