When on the cross the Savior hung

Representative Text

1 When on the cross the Savior hung,
And that sore load that on Him weighed
With bitter pangs His nature wrung,
Seven words amid His pain He said:
O let them well to heart be laid!

2 "Father, forgive these men," He spake,
"For lo! they know not what they do;
Nor of my sufferings vengeance take!"
And when we sin in weakness, too,
For us, dear Lord, this prayer renew!

3 He thought upon the thief, and said,--
"Thou shalt behold my Paradise
With me, ere yet this day be fled."
Lord, see us too with pitying eyes,
And raise us from our miseries!

4 His mother stood beside Him there;
"Behold thy son! And let her find
A son, O John, in thy true care."
Lord, care for those we leave behind,
Nor let the world prove all unkind!

5 Once more He saith:--"I thirst, I thirst!"
O Prince of Life! that we might be
Rescued from death, Thou dar'st the worst.
So dost Thou long to set us free;
Not fruitless be that thirst in Thee!

6 Again, "My God, My God," He cried,
"Ah why dost Thou forsake me thus?"
Thou art forsaken at this tide,
To win acceptance, Lord, for us;
O comfort deep and marvelous!

7 He saith--"Lo! it is finished now!"
Savior, thy perfect work is done!
O make us faithful, Lord, as Thou,
No trial and no cross to shun,
Till all Thou lay'st on us be done.

8 At last,--"My Father, to Thine hands
My parting soul I now commend."
Lord, when my spirit trembling stands
Upon life's verge, this cry I send
To Thee, and with Thy words I end.

9 Whoso shall ponder oft these words
When long-past sins his soul alarm,
Shall find the hope Thy cross accords,
And in Thy grace a healing balm
That brings the wounded conscience calm.

10 Lord Jesus Christ, who diedst for us,
This one thing grant us evermore;
To ponder o'er Thy passion thus,
Till truer, deeper than before,
We learn to love Thee and adore!

Source: Evangelical Lutheran hymnal: with music #74

Author: Johannes Zwick

Zwick, Johann, son of Conrad Zwick, Rathsherr at Constanz, was born at Constanz, circa 1496. He studied law at the Universities of Basel, Freiburg, Paris, and Padua (where he graduated LL.D.), and was for some time a tutor in law at Freiburg and at Basel. In 1518 he entered the priesthood, and in 1522 was appointed parish priest of Riedlingen on the Upper Danube. Being accused of Lutheran tendencies, he was forbidden in 1523 to officiate, and in 1525 his living was formally taken from him. He returned to Constanz, and was appointed by the Council in 1527 as one of the town preachers. Here he laboured unweariedly, caring specially for the children, the poor, and the refugees, till 1542. In Aug. 1542, the people of Bischofszell, in Thurgau, h… Go to person page >

Translator: Catherine Winkworth

Catherine Winkworth (b. Holborn, London, England, 1827; d. Monnetier, Savoy, France, 1878) is well known for her English translations of German hymns; her translations were polished and yet remained close to the original. Educated initially by her mother, she lived with relatives in Dresden, Germany, in 1845, where she acquired her knowledge of German and interest in German hymnody. After residing near Manchester until 1862, she moved to Clifton, near Bristol. A pioneer in promoting women's rights, Winkworth put much of her energy into the encouragement of higher education for women. She translated a large number of German hymn texts from hymnals owned by a friend, Baron Bunsen. Though often altered, these translations continue to be used i… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: When on the cross the Savior hung
German Title: Da Jesus an dem Kreuze stund
Translator: Catherine Winkworth (1863)
Author: Johannes Zwick
Source: Ancient
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

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Evangelical Lutheran Hymnal #74

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Evangelical Lutheran hymnal #74

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Evangelical Lutheran Hymnal. 9th ed. #a74

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Chorale Book for England, The #53

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