Worship in Song ‎#109

109. 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;
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!
Thy grief and bitter passion
Were all for sinners' gain;
Mine, mine was the transgression,
But thine the deadly pain.

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.

4 Be near when I am dying
O show thy Cross to me!
And, for my succor flying,
Come, Lord, to set me free.
These eyes, new faith receiving,
From thee shall never move;
For he who dies believing
Dies safely in thy love.

Text Information

• First Line: O sacred Head, now wounded
• Title: O Sacred Head, Now Wounded
• Author (attributed to): St. Bernard of Clairvaux
• Translator: Paul Gerhardt (1656)
• Translator: James Waddell Alexander (1830, alt.)
• Meter: 7.6.7.6.D.
• Publication Date: 1996
• Topic: Cross; Crucifixion; Good Friday; Story of Jesus; Sin

Tune Information

• Name: PASSION CHORALE
• Composer: Hans Leo Hassler
• Harmonizer: Johann Sebastian Bach
• Meter: 7.6.7.6.D.
• Key: C Major
• Source: Lustgarten neuer Deutscher Gesäng 1601; Harm.: St. Matthew Passion, 1729