O Sacred Head Now Wounded

O Sacred Head Now Wounded

Text attributed to Bernard of Clairvaux (1091-1153), transcribed in German in 1656 by Paul Gerhardt (1607-1676), and then transcribed in English in 1830 by James W. Alexander (1804-1859)

Sung to PASSION CHORALE, composed in 1601 by Hans Leo Hassler (1564-1612), arranged in 1729 by J.S. Bach (1685-1750)

Matthew 27:29 ...and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said.

V. 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.

V. 2 What Thou, my Lord, hast suffered

Was all for sinner's gain;

Mine, mine was the transgression,

But Thine the deadly pain.

Lo, here I fall, my savior!

'Tis I deserve Thy place;

Look on me with Thy favor,

Vouchsafe to me Thy grace.

V. 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.