355. Sing, My Tongue

1 Sing, my tongue, the glorious battle;
tell the triumph far and wide;
tell aloud the wondrous story
of the cross, the Crucified;
tell how Christ, the world's redeemer,
vanquished death the day he died.

2 God in mercy saw us fallen,
sunk in shame and misery,
felled to death in Eden's garden,
where in pride we claimed the tree;
then another tree was chosen,
which the world from death would free.

3 Tell how, when at length the fullness
of the appointed time was come,
Christ, the Word, was born of woman,
left for us the heav'nly home,
blazed the path of true obedience,
shone as light amidst the gloom.

4 Thirty years among us dwelling,
Jesus went from Nazareth,
destined, dedicated, willing,
did his work, and met his death;
like a lamb he humbly yielded
on the cross his dying breath.

5 Bend your boughs, O tree of glory,
your relaxing sinews bend;
for a while the ancient rigor
that your birth bestowed, suspend;
and the Lord of heav'nly beauty
gently on your arms extend.

6 Faithful cross, true sign of triumph,
be for all the noblest tree;
none in foliage, none in blossom,
none in fruit your equal be;
symbol of the world's redemption,
for your burden makes us free.

7 Unto God be praise and glory;
to the Father and the Son,
to the eternal Spirit honor
now and evermore be done;
praise and glory in the highest,
while the timeless ages run.

Amen.

Text Information
First Line: Sing, my tongue, the glorious battle
Title: Sing, My Tongue
Author: Venantius Honorius fortunatus, 530-609
Translator: John Mason Neale, 1818-1866 (alt.)
Meter: 8 7 8 7 8 7
Language: English
Publication Date: 2006
Topic: Holy Cross Day; Holy Week, Three Days
Tune Information
Name: PANGE LINGUA
Meter: 8 7 8 7 8 7
Key: e minor
Source: Plainsong mode III, Vatican collection



Media
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