99. O Sacred Head, now wounded

1 O sacred Head, now wounded,
With grief and shame weighed down,
Now scornfully surrounded
With thorns, Thy 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 How art Thou pale with anguish,
With sore abuse and scorn!
How does that visage languish,
Which once was bright as morn!
What Thou, my Lord, hast suffered,
Was all for sinners' gain:
Mine, mine was the transgression,
But Thine the deadly pain.

3 Lo, here I fall, my Saviour!
'Tis I deserve Thy place!
Look on me with Thy favor,
Vouchsafe to me Thy grace.
Receive me, my Redeemer;
My Shepherd, make me Thine!
Of every good the Fountain,
Thou art the Spring of mine!

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;
Lord, on Thy help relying
Come Thou and set me free;
These eyes, new faith receiving,
From Thee shall never move;
For he who dies believing,
Dies safely in Thy love.

Amen.

Text Information
First Line: O Sacred Head, now wounded
Author: Paul Gerhardt (1656)
Translator: James Waddell Alexander (1830. a)
Language: English
Publication Date: 1917
Topic: The Church Year: Good Friday
Source: Based on a Latin Hymn of Bernard of Clairvaux, d. 1153
Tune Information
Name: PASSION CHORAL
Composer: Hans Leo Hassler (1601)
Meter: 7 6, 7 6. D.
Key: a minor



Media
More media are available on the text authority and tune authority pages.

Suggestions or corrections? Contact us