Psalter Hymnal (Red) ‎#358

358. O Sacred Head, Now Wounded

1 O sacred Head, now wounded,
With grief and shame weighed down,
Now scornfully surrounded
With thorns, Thine only crown;
O sacred Head, what glory,
What bliss till now was Thine!
Yet, though despised and gory,
I joy to call Thee mine.

2 O noblest Brow and dearest,
In other days the world
All feared when Thou appearedst;
What shame on Thee is hurled!
How art Thou pale with anguish,
With sore abuse and scorn!
How does that visage languish,
Which once was bright as morn!

3 What Thou, my Lord, hast suffered
Was all for sinners’ gain;
Mine, mine was the transgression,
But Thine the deadly pain.
Lo, here I fall, my Savior,
’Tis I deserve Thy place;
Look on me with Thy favor,
Vouchsafe to me Thy grace.

4 What language shall I borrow
To thank Thee, dearest Friend,
For this Thy dying sorrow,
Thy pity without end?
O make me Thine forever;
And should I fainting be,
Lord, let me never, never
Outlive my love to Thee.

Text Information

• First Line: O sacred Head, now wounded
• Title: O Sacred Head, Now Wounded
• Author: Bernard of Clairvaux, 1091-1153
• Translator: Rev. James W. Alexander
• Meter: 7 6 7 6 D.
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1934
• Topic: Atonement; Communion Service; Cross of Christ; Love for Christ; Christ as Mediator; Sufferings of Christ
• Source: Translation from the German

Tune Information

• Name: PASSION CHORALE
• Composer: H. L. Hassler, 1564-1612
• Adapter: Johann Sebastian Bach (1729)
• Harmonizer: Johann Sebastian Bach (1729)
• Meter: 7 6 7 6 D.
• Key: a minor or modal