Lyrics

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,
assist me with thy grace.

Verse 3
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.

Scripture Reference: John 19, Isaiah 53:3-5
Text: Latin Hymn (14th cen.), translated by Paul Gerhardt (1656) and James W. Alexander (1830)
Music: PASSION CHORALE, Hans Leo Hassler (1601)
Meter: 7.6.7.6 D
Copyright: Public Domain

This hymn is featured in our 2022 Lent Worship Guide: