Breaking Bread (Vol. 39) ‎#147

147. Sing, My Tongue, the Savior's Glory

1 Sing, my tongue, the Savior's glory:
Tell his triumph far and wide;
Tell aloud the famous story
Of his body crucified;
How upon the cross a victim,
Vanquishing in death, he died.

2 Faithful cross, O tree all beauteous!
Tree all peerless and divine,
Not a grove on earth can show us
Such a flow'r and leaf as thine.
Sweet the nails, and sweet the wood,
Laden with so sweet a load!

3 Eating of the tree forbidden,
Humans sank in Satan's snare,
When our pitying Creator
Did this second tree prepare;
Destined, many ages later,
That first evil to repair.

4 Such the order God appointed
When for sin he would atone;
To the serpent thus opposing
Schemes yet deeper than his own;
Thence the remedy procuring,
When the fatal wound had come.

5 So when now at length the fullness
Of the sacred time drew nigh,
Then the Son, the world's Creator,
Left his Father's throne on high;
From a virgin's womb appearing,
Clothed in our mortality.

6 Thus did Christ to perfect manhood
In our mortal flesh attain:
Then of his free choice he goes on
To a death of bitter pain;
And as lamb upon the altar
Of the cross, for us is slain.

7 Lofty tree, bend down your branches,
To embrace your sacred load;
Oh, relax the native tension
Of that all too rigid wood;
Gently, gently bear the members
Of your dying King and God.

8 Blessing, honor everlasting,
To the immortal Deity;
To the Father, Son, and Spirit,
Equal praises ever be;
Glory through the earth and heaven,
Trinity in Unity. Amen.

Text Information

• First Line: Sing, my tongue, the Savior's glory
• Title: Sing, My Tongue, the Savior's Glory
• Author: Venantius Honorius Fortunatus, 530-609
• Translator: John M. Neale, 1818-1866
• Meter: 87 87 87
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 2019
• Topic: Seasonal Music: Good Friday

Tune Information

• Name: PANGE LINGUA GLORIOSI
• Meter: 87 87 87
• Key: b minor or modal
• Source: Chant, Mode III; Liber Hymnarius, 1983