Text:O Darkest Woe
Author (vs. 2-4):Johann Rist
Translator (from German):Catherine Winkworth
Tune:O TRAURIGKEIT
Composer:Anonymous
Media:MIDI file

4768. O Darkest Woe

1. O darkest woe! Ye tears, forth flow!
Has earth so sad a wonder?
God the Father’s only Son
Now lies buried yonder.

2. O sorrow dread!
God’s Son is dead!
But by His expiation
Of our guilt upon the cross
Gained for us salvation.

3. O sinful man, it was the ban
Of death on thee that brought Him
Down to suffer for thy sins,
And such woe hath wrought Him.

4. Behold thy Lord, the Lamb of God
Blood sprinkled lies before thee,
Pouring out His life that He
May to life restore thee.

5. O Ground of faith,
Laid low in death,
Sweet lips, now silent sleeping!
Surely all that live must mourn
Here with bitter weeping.

6. O blest shall be
Eternally
Who oft in faith will ponder
Why the glorious Prince of Life
Should be buried yonder.

7. O Jesus blest, my Help and Rest!
With tears I pray, Lord hear me,
Make me love Thee to the last,
And in death be near me.

Text Information
First Line: O darkest woe! Ye tears, forth flow
Title: O Darkest Woe
German Title: O Traurigkeit, o Herzeleid
Author (vs. 2-4): Johann Rist (1641)
Translator (from German): Catherine Winkworth
Meter: 44.776
Language: English
Source: Vs. 1 from the Catholic Würzburg Gesangbuch, 1628, verses 2-4, Himmlische Lieder (Lüneburg, Germany: 1641); translation in Chorale Book for England, 1863
Copyright: Public Domain
Notes: Rist wrote: The first verse of this funeral hymn, along with its devotional melody, came accidentally into my hands. As I was greatly pleased with it, I added the other seven as they stand, since I could not be a party to the use of the other verses.
Tune Information
Name: O TRAURIGKEIT
Composer: Anonymous (1628)
Meter: 44.776
Incipit: 53127 11755 56542
Key: f minor
Source: Composer unknown (Mainz, Germany: 1628)
Copyright: Public Domain



Media
Adobe Acrobat image: Adobe Acrobat image
(Cyber Hymnal)
MIDI file: MIDI File
(Cyber Hymnal)
Noteworthy Composer score: Noteworthy Composer score
(Cyber Hymnal)
XML score: XML score
More media are available on the tune authority page.

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