Church Book ‎#176

176. O sacred Head, now wounded

1 O sacred Head, now wounded,
With grief and shame weighed down,
Now scornfully surrounded
With thorns, Thy 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 How art Thou pale with anguish,
With sore abuse and scorn!
How does that visage languish,
Which once was bright as morn!
What Thou, my Lord, hast suffered,
Was all for sinners' gain:
Mine, mine was the transgression,
But Thine the deadly pain.

3 Lo, here I fall, my Saviour!
'Tis I deserve Thy place!
Look on me with Thy favor,
Vouchsafe to me Thy grace.
Receive me, my Redeemer;
My Shepherd, make me Thine!
Of every good the Fountain,
Thu at the spring of mine!

3 What language shall I borrow
To thank Thee, dearest Friend,
For this Thy dying sorrow,
Thy pity without end!
O make me Thine for ever,
And should I fainting be,
Lord, let me never, never,
Outlive my love to Thee.

5 Forbid that I should leave Thee;
O Jesus, leave not me;
In faith may I receive Thee,
When death shall set me free.
When strength and comfort languish,
And I must hence depart,
Release me then from anguish
By Thine own wounded heart.

Text Information

• First Line: O sacred Head, now wounded
• German Title: O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden
• Author: Paul Gerhardt (1659)
• Author: Bernard of Clairvaux, d. 1153
• Translator: James Waddell Alexander (1849, a.)
• Meter: 7, 6.
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1890
• Topic: Good Friday; Lent, Fifth Sunday; Passion Week
• Notes: Now Public Domain.

Tune Information

• Name: O HAUPT VOLL BLUT U. WUNDEN
• Meter: 7, 6.
• Key: a minor
• Notes: Now Public Domain. Composer from index: Hans Leo Hassler. 1601. Secular origin.