The Christian Hymnary. Bks. 1-4 ‎#129

129. 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, tho' despised and gory,
I joy to call Thee mine.

2 O noblest brow and dearest,
In other days the world
All feared when Thou appearedst;
What shame on Thee is hurled!
How art Thou pale with anguish,
With sore abuse and scorn;
How does that visage languish
Which once was bright as morn!

3 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 Saviour!
'Tis I deserve Thy place;
Look on me with Thy favor,
Vouchsafe to me Thy grace.

4 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 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 Jesus shall not move;
For he who dies believing,
Dies safely, thro' Thy love.

Text Information

• First Line: O sacred Head, now wounded
• Title: O Sacred Head Now Wounded
• German Title: Salve caput cruentatum
• Author: Bernard of Clairvaux (c. 1153)
• Translator (into German): Paul Gerhardt (1607-1676) (1656)
• Translator (into English): James W. Alexander (1804-1859) (1830)
• Meter: 7.6.7.6.D.
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1972
• Scripture:
  Mark 15:17
• Topic: Book One: Hymns, Songs, Chorales; Jesus Christ: Suffering, Death of
• Source: and others (Tr. Composite) (into English)
• Notes: And platted a crown of thorns, and put it about His head. Mk. 15:17.

Tune Information

• Name: HERZLICHT TUT MICH VERLANGEN
• Composer: Hans Leo Hassler (1564-1612) (1601)
• Harmonizer: Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) (1729)
• Meter: 7.6.7.6.D.
• Key: D Major
• Notes: M.M. 60

Text Information:

German title: O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden.