O Sacred Head, Now Wounded

Words and music by Paul Gerhardt · tr. James W. Alexander · 1830

Key of C · 66 BPM · 4/4 · Easter,Lament · Isaiah 53:5

Verse 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.

Verse 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 Savior! 'Tis I deserve Thy place;
Look on
me with Thy favor, vouchsafe to me Thy grace.

Verse 3

Men mock and taunt and jeer
Thee, Thou noble countenance,
Though mighty worlds shall fear
Thee and flee before
Thy glance. How art
thou pale with anguish, with sore abuse and scorn!
How doth
Thy visage languish that once was bright as morn!

Verse 4

Now from Thy cheeks has vanished their color once
so fair; From Thy red lips is banished the splendor that
was there. Grim death,
with cruel rigor, hath robbed Thee of Thy life;
Thus Thou
hast lost Thy vigor, Thy strength in this sad strife.

Verse 5

My burden in Thy Passion, Lord, Thou hast borne
for me, For it was my transgression which brought this woe
on Thee. I cast
me down before
Thee, wrath were my rightful lot;
Have mercy, I implore
Thee; Redeemer, spurn me not!

Public domain. Free for churches.