Hymns to the Living God ‎#147

147. 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 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.

3 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 for Thee.

4 Be near when I am dying,
O show Thy cross to me!
And, for my succor flying,
come, Lord, to set me free.
These eyes, new faith receiving,
from Thee shall never move;
for he who dies believing
dies safely in Thy love.

Text Information

• First Line: O sacred Head, now wounded
• Title: O Sacred Head, Now Wounded
• Author (attributed to): Bernard of Clairvaux, 12th cent.
• Translator (into German): Paul Gerhardt (1656)
• Translator: James W. Alexander (1830)
• Meter: 7.6.7.6.D
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 2017
• Topic: Jesus Christ: Suffering and Death

Tune Information

• Name: PASSION CHORALE
• Composer: Hans Leo Hassler (1601)
• Adapter: Johann Sebastian Bach (1729)
• Meter: 7.6.7.6.D
• Key: a minor