Good Friday

Two hymn texts for today.

O Sacred Head, Now Wounded

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.

How pale thou art with anguish,
with sore abuse and scorn;
how does thy face now 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.

What language shall I borrow
to thank thee, dearest friend,
for this thy dying sorrow,
thy pity without end?
Oh, make me thine forever,
and should I fainting be,
Lord, let me never, never
outlive my love to thee.

Lord, be my consolation;
shield me when I must die;
remind me of thy passion
when my last hour draws nigh.
These eyes, new faith receiving,
from thee shall never move;
for all who die believing
die safely in thy love.

Text: Paul Gerhardt, 1607–1676, based on Arnulf of Louvain, d. 1250;
tr. Evangelical Lutheran Worship composite

Lord, Thee I Love with All My Heart

Lord, thee I love with all my heart;
I pray thee, ne'er from me depart;
with tender mercy cheer me.
Earth has no pleasure I would share,
yea, heav'n itself were void and bare
if thou, Lord, were not near me.
And should my heart for sorrow break,
my trust in thee can nothing shake.
Thou art the portion I have sought;
thy precious blood my soul has bought.
Lord Jesus Christ,
my God and Lord, my God and Lord,
forsake me not! I trust thy word.

Yea, Lord, thy own rich bounty gave
my body, soul, and all I have
in this poor life of labor.
Lord, grant that I in ev'ry place
may glorify thy lavish grace
and serve and help my neighbor.
Let no false teaching me beguile,
let Satan not my soul defile.
Give strength and patience unto me
to bear my cross and follow thee.
Lord Jesus Christ,
my God and Lord, my God and Lord,
in death thy comfort still afford.

Lord, let at last thine angels come,
to Abr'ham's bosom bear me home,
that I may die unfearing;
and in its narrow chamber keep
my body safe in peaceful sleep
until thy reappearing.
And then from death awaken me,
that these mine eyes with joy may see,
O Son of God, thy glorious face,
my Savior and my fount of grace.
Lord Jesus Christ,
my prayer attend, my prayer attend,
and I will praise thee without end!

Text: Martin Schalling, 1532-1608; tr. Catherine Winkworth, 1827-1878