Lutheran Book of Worship ‎#115

115. Jesus, I Will Ponder Now

1 Jesus, I will ponder now
On your holy Passion;
Let your Spirit now endow
Me for meditation.
Grant that I in love and faith
May the image cherish
Of your suff'ring, pain, and death,
That I may not perish.

2 Make me see Your great distress,
Anguish, and affliction,
Bonds and stripes and wretchedness
And your crucifixion;
Make me see how scourge and rod,
Spear and nails, did wound you,
How you died for those, O God,
Who with thorns had crowned you.

3 Yet, O Lord, not thus alone
Make me see your Passion,
But its cause to me make known
And its termination.
For I also and my sin
Wrought your deep affliction;
This the shameful cause has been
Of your crucifixion.

4 Let me view your pain and loss
With repentant grieving,
Nor prepare again your cross
By unholy living.
May I give you love for love!
Hear me, O my Savior,
That I may in heav'n above
Sing your praise forever.

Text Information

• First Line: Jesus, I will ponder now
• Title: Jesus, I Will Ponder Now
• Translator: August Crull, 1846-1923 (alt.)
• Author: Sigismund von Birken, 1626-1681
• Meter: 76 76 D
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1978
• Topic: Holy Week; Cross-bearing

Tune Information

• Name: JESU KREUZ, LEIDEN UND PEIN
• Composer: Melchior Vulpius, c. 1560-1615
• Meter: 76 76 D
• Key: E♭ Major