Scripture Verse

How wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ. Ephesians 3:17–18

Introduction

Words: Un­known au­thor, 15th Cen­tu­ry (Ap­pa­ru­it be­nig­ni­tas). Ben­ja­min Webb trans­lat­ed a cen­to be­gin­ning with O amor quam ex­sta­ti­cus from La­tin to Eng­lish for The Hym­nal Not­ed, 1854.

Music: Deo Gra­ci­as The Ag­in­court Song, 1415 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tunes:

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Webb (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

O love, how deep, how broad, how high,
It fills the heart with ecstasy,
That God, the Son of God, should take
Our mortal form for mortals’ sake!

He sent no angel to our race
Of higher or of lower place,
But wore the robe of human frame
Himself, and to this lost world came.

For us baptized, for us He bore
His holy fast and hungered sore,
For us temptation sharp He knew;
For us the tempter overthrew.

For us He prayed; for us He taught;
For us His daily works He wrought;
By words and signs and actions thus
Still seeking not Himself, but us.

For us to wicked men betrayed,
Scourged, mocked, in purple robe arrayed,
He bore the shameful cross and death,
For us gave up His dying breath.

For us He rose from death again;
For us He went on high to reign;
For us He sent His Spi­rit here,
To guide, to strengthen, and to cheer.

To Him whose boundless love has won
Salvation for us through His Son,
To God the Fa­ther, glo­ry be
Both now and through eternity.