178. O sacred Head, now wounded

He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities ... Isaiah 53:5

Ascribed to Bernard of Clairvaux, 1091–1153
Tr. by Paul Gerhardt, 1656
Tr. by James Waddell Alexander, 1830


Hans Leo Hassler, 1601
har. by Johann Sebastian Bach, 1729

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  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. 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 Saviour!

    ’Tis I deserve thy place;

    Look on me with thy favor,

    Vouchsafe to me 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 for ever;

    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 Jesus shall not move;

    For he who dies believing,

    Dies safely, through thy love.