Media in morte is now believed to date from around 1200, but is attributed to Notker by Winkworth, with an accompanying anecdote:
The hymn, "In the midst of life," is one of those founded on a more
ancient hymn, the "Media in vita" of Notker, a learned Benedictine
of St. Gall, who died in 912. He is said to have composed it while
watching some workmen, who were building the bridge of Martinsbruck at
the peril of their lives. It was soon set to music, and became
universally known; indeed it was used as a battle song, until the
custom was forbidden on account of its being supposed to exercise
magical influences. In a German version it formed part of the service
for the burial of the dead, as early as the thirteenth century, and is
still preserved in an unmetrical form in the Burial Service of our own
Church.
Media vita in morte sumus
Quem quærimus adjutorem nisi te, Domine?
Qui pro peccatis nostris juste irasceris
Sancte Deus, Sancte fortis,
Sancte et misericors Salvator,
Amaræ morti ne tradas nos.
Variant 1
In Te speraverunt Patres nostri,
speraverunt et liberasti eos.
Ad Te clamaverunt Patres nostri,
clamaverunt et non sunt confusi.
Sancte Deus, Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto:
sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, et in sæcula sæculorum. Amen.
English translation (Book of Common Prayer)
In the midst of life we be in death:
Of whom may we seek for succour, but of Thee,
O Lord, which for our sins justly art moved?
Yet, O Lord God most holy, O Lord most mighty,
O holy and most merciful Saviour,
Deliver us not into the bitter pains of eternal death.
Variant 1
In you our Fathers have trusted;
they have trusted and you have delivered them.
To You our Father have cried out;
they have cried out, and they have not been brought to ruin.
O Holy God, Glory to the Father, and the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, now and always and for ever and ever.
Thou knowest, Lord, the secrets of our hearts.
Shut not up thy merciful eyes to our prayers:
But spare us, Lord most holy,
O God most mighty,
O holy and merciful Saviour,
Thou most worthy Judge eternal,
Suffer us not, at our last hour,
For any pains of death,
To fall from Thee.
Mitten wir im Leben sind
German text
(Luther, 1543)
1. Mitten wir im Leben sind
Mit dem Tod umfangen.
Wen such’n wir, der Hülfe tu’,
Daß wir Gnad’ erlangen?
Das bist du, Herr, alleine!
Uns reuet unser’ Missetat,
Die dich, Herr, erzürnet hat.
Heiliger Herre Gott,
Heiliger, starker Gott,
Heiliger, barmherziger Heiland,
Du ewiger Gott!
Laß uns nicht versinken
In der bittern Todesnot!
Kyrieleison!
2. Mitten in den Tod ansieht
Uns der Höllen Rachen;
Wer will uns aus solcher Not
Frei und ledig machen?
Das tust du, Herr, alleine.
Es jammert dein’ Barmherzigkeit
Unser’ Sünd’ und großes Leid.
Heiliger Herre Gott!
Heiliger, starker Gott!
Heiliger, barmherziger Heiland!
Du ewiger Gott!
Laß uns nicht verzagen
Für der tiefen Höllenglut!
Kyrieleison!
3. Mitten in der Höllen Angst
Unser’ Klag’ uns treiben;
Wo soll’n wir denn fliehen hin,
Da wir mögen bleiben?
Zu dir, Herr Christ, alleine.
Vergossen ist dein teures Blut,
Das g’nug für die Sünde tut.
Heiliger Herre Gott!
Heiliger, starker Gott!
Heiliger, barmherziger Heiland!
Du ewiger Gott!
Laß uns nicht entfallen
Von des rechten Glaubens Trost.
Kyrieleison!
English translation (Catherine Winkworth, Lyra Germanica (1862))
In the midst of life, behold
Death has girt us round.
Whom for help then shall we pray,
Where shall grace be found?
In Thee, O Lord, alone!
We rue the evil we have done,
That Thy wrath on us hath drawn.
Holy Lord and God!
Strong and Holy God!
Merciful and Holy Saviour!
Eternal God!
Leave us not to sink beneath
These dark pains of bitter death;
Kyrie eleison!
In the midst of death the jaws
Of hell against us gape.
Who from peril dire as this
Openeth us escape?
'Tis Thou, O Lord, alone!
Our bitter suffering and our sin
Pity from Thy mercy win,
Holy Lord and God!
Strong and Holy God!
Merciful and Holy Saviour!
Eternal God!
Let not dread our souls o'erwhelm
Of the dark and burning realm,
Kyrie Eleison!
In the midst of hell would Sin
Drive us to despair;
Whither shall we flee away?
Where is refuge, where?
With Thee, Lord Christ, alone!
For Thou hast shed Thy precious blood,
All our sins Thou makest good,
Holy Lord and God!
Strong and Holy God!
Merciful and Holy Saviour!
Eternal God!
Leave us not to fall in death
From the hope of Thy true Faith,
Kyrie Eleison!