Folk and Traditional Song Lyrics:
O Sacred Head Now Wounded

O Sacred Head Now Wounded

O Sacred Head Now Wounded
(words ascribed to Bernard of Clairvaux, 1140;
translations by Paul Gerhardt, 1656 and J W Alexander 1830.
The tune is ""Passion Chorale"" from St. Mathewws Passion
by J S Bach, 1729.)

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

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

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.

RR
APR99