178. 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:
How pale Thou art with anguish,
With sore abuse and scorn,
How does that visage languish,
Which once was bright as morn!

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,
Assist me with Thy grace.

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

Amen.

Text Information
First Line: O sacred Head, now wounded
Title: O Sacred Head, Now Wounded
Author (attributed to): Bernard of Clairvaux
Translator: James W. Alexander
Author: Paul Gerhardt
Meter: 7.6.7.6.D.
Language: English
Publication Date: 1986
Topic: Jesus Our Savior: His Suffering and Death; Temptation
Source: based on Medieval Latin poem ascribed to Bernard of Clairvaux
Tune Information
Name: PASSION CHORALE
Composer: Hans Leo Hassler
Harmonizer: J. S. Bach
Meter: 7.6.7.6.D.
Key: C Major



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