Evangelical Lutheran hymnal ‎#78

78. O darkest woe! Ye tears, forth flow!

1 O darkest Woe! Ye tears forth flow!
Has earth so sad a wonder,
That the Father's only Son
Now is buried yonder!

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

3 O son of 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 Yea, blest is he Whose heart shall be
Fix'd here, and apprehendeth
Why the Lord of glory thus
To the grave descendeth.

7 O Jesus blest! My help and rest!
With tears I now entreat Thee;
Make me love Thee to the last,
Till in heaven I greet Thee!

Text Information

• First Line: O darkest woe! Ye tears, forth flow!
• Author (st. 2-7): Johann Rist
• Author (st. 1): Unknown
• Translator: Catherine Winkworth (1863)
• Meter: No. 42
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1908
• Topic: The Church Year: Passion
• Notes: From the German text: O Traurigkeit, o Herzeleid

Tune Information

• Name: ARIMATHAEA (O Traurigkeit, O Herzeleid)
• Composer: Johann Schap (1628)
• Meter: No. 42
• Key: g minor