Church Book ‎#178

178. Christ the Life of all the living

1 Christ, the Life of all the living,
Christ, the Death of death our foe,
Who Thyself for me once giving
To the darkest depths of woe,
Patiently didst yield Thy breath
But to save my soul from death;
Thousand, thousand thanks shall be,
Dearest Jesus, unto Thee.

2 Thou, ah Thou, hast taken on Thee
Bitter strokes, a cruel rod;
Pain and scorn were heaped upon Thee,
0 Thou sinless Son of God.
Only thus for me to win
Rescue from the bonds of sin;
Thousand, thousand thanks shall be,
Dearest Jesus, unto Thee.

3 Thou didst bear the smiting only
That it might not fall on me;
Stoodest falsely charge and lonely,
that I might be safe and free;
Comfortless that I might know
Comfort from Thy boundless woe.
Thousand, thousand thanks shall be,
Dearest Jesus, unto Thee.

4 Then for all that wrought our pardon,
For Thy sorrows deep and sore,
For Thine anguish in the garden,
I will thank Thee evermore;
Thank Thee with my latest breath
For Thy sad and cruel death,
For that last and bitter cry:
Praise Thee evermore on high.

Text Information

• First Line: Christ the Life of all the living
• German Title: Jesu, meines Lebens Leben
• Author: Ernest Christopher Homburg (1659)
• Translator: Miss Winkworth (1862, a.)
• Meter: 8, 7, 7.
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1890
• Topic: Good Friday; Passion Week

Tune Information

• Name: JESU, MEINES LEBENS LEBEN
• Meter: 8, 7, 7.
• Key: E♭ Major
• Notes: Source from index: 17th cent.