Total Praise ‎#242

242. 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, though despised and gory,
I joy to call Thee mine!

2 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 Savior!
’Tis I deserve Thy place;
Look on me with Thy favor,
Vouchsafe to me Thy grace.

3 The joy can ne'er be spoken,
Above all joys beside,
When in Thy body broken
I thus with safety hide.
My Lord of life, desiring
Thy glory now to see,
Beside the cross expiring,
I'd breathe my soul to Thee.

4 What language shall I borrow,
To thank Thee, dearest Friend,
For this Thy dying sorrow,
Thy pity without end?
Oh, make me Thine forever;
And should I fainting be,
Lord, let me never, never
Outlive my love to Thee.

Text Information

• First Line: O sacred Head, now wounded
• Title: O Sacred Head, Now Wounded
• Latin Title: Salve caput cruentatum
• Author (attributed to): Bernard of Clairvaux, 1091-1153
• Translator: Paul Gerhardt, 1607-1676
• Adapter (English): James W. Alexander, 1804-1859
• Meter: 7 6 7 6 D
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 2011
• Scripture:
  John 19:18
• Topic: Burdens; Grace, Mercy, and Forgiveness; Jesus Christ: His Atonement, Crucifixion and Death; Jesus Christ: His Cross; Jesus Christ: Our Love For Jesus; Jesus Christ: Shepherd and Lamb; Salvation; Worship and Adoration

Tune Information

• Name: PASSION CHORALE
• Composer: Hans Leo Hassler, 1564-1612
• Harmonizer: J. S. Bach, 1685-1750
• Meter: 7 6 7 6 D
• Key: a minor or modal