Scripture Verse

He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed. Isaiah 53:5

Introduction

portrait
Sigismund von Birken (1626–1681)

Words: Sig­is­mund von Bir­ken, in Heil­ige Kar­woch­en (Nur­em­berg, Ger­ma­ny: 1653). Trans­lat­ed from Ger­man to Eng­lish by Au­gust Crull in the Ev­an­ge­li­cal Lu­ther­an Hymn-Book (Bal­ti­more, Ma­ry­land: 1889).

Music: Jesu Kreuz, Lei­den und Pein Mel­chi­or Vul­pi­us, Ein schön geist­lich Ge­sang­buch (Je­na, Ger­ma­ny: 1609) (🔊 pdf nwc).

illustration
The Flagellation of Christ
Michelangelo Caravaggio (1571–1610)

Lyrics

Jesus, I will ponder now
On Your holy Passion;
Let Your Spi­rit now endow
Me for meditation.
Grant that I in love and faith
May the image cherish
Of Your suffering, pain and death
That I may not perish.

Make me see Your great distress,
Anguish, and affliction,
Bonds and stripes and wretchedness
And your crucifixion;
Make me see how scourge and rod,
Spear and nails, did wound You,
How You died for those, O God,
Who with thorns had crowned You.

Let, O Lord, not thus alone
Make me see your Passion,
But its cause to me make known
And its termination.
For I also and my sin
Wrought your deep affliction;
This the shameful cause has been
Of Your crucifixion.

Let me view Your pain and loss
With repentant grieving,
Nor prepare again your cross
By unholy living.
May I give you love for love!
Hear me, O my Sav­ior,
That I may in Heav’n above
Sing your praise for­ev­er.