The Cyber Hymnal ‎#9803

9803. See, World, Upon The Bloody Tree

1 See, world, upon the bloody tree
Thy life there sinks in death;
Covered with stripes and wounds for thee,
Thy Savior yields His breath.

2 Thou Prince of Glory knew’st no sin;
What caused, Thee, then Thy pain?
Thou harmless, undefiled and clean,
What caused Thee to be slain?

3 My sins, as numerous as the sands,
Upon the ocean shore,
Have been the cruel murderous hands
That wounded Thee so sore.

4 Thy anguish, Thy tormenting pain,
And every dreadful woe,
Thou didst so willingly sustain,
My soul should undergo.

5 Thou on Thy shoulders tak’st the whole,
To ease my burdened heart:
Thou bear’st the curse, to bless my soul,
And heal’st me with Thy smart.

6 Thy wondrous love to evidence,
Thou wouldst my surety be;
Thyself would’st pay my debt immense,
Thereby to set me free.

7 Thou art destruction to the grave;
Death’s enemy severe;
That each who was before his slave,
Might now be saved from fear.

8 My debt to Thee, Thou God of Love!
Weak words cannot express;
I cannot here, if there above,
Show proper thankfulness.

9 Grant me but this while I am here,
Since I can nothing give,
Thy sufferings in my heart to bear,
And in Thy death to live!

Text Information

• First Line: See, world, upon the bloody tree
• Title: See, World, Upon The Bloody Tree
• German Title: O Welt, sieh hier dein Leben
• Author: Paul Gerhardt
• Translator: Philipp H. Molther
• Meter: CM
• Language: English
• Source: Praxis Pietatis Melica by Johann Crüger, 1648; Trans.: Moravian Hymn Book, 1742
• Copyright: Public Domain

Tune Information

• Name: BALLERMA
• Composer: François Hippolyte Barthélémon, 1741-1808
• Adapter: Robert Simpson
• Meter: CM
• Key: A♭ Major
• Source: Adapt.: A Selection of Original Sacred Music, 1833
• Copyright: Public Domain