O Sacred Head, Now Wounded
Words and music by Paul Gerhardt · tr. James W. Alexander · 1830
Key of C · 66 BPM · 4/4 · Easter,Comfort · 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 in the United States (best-effort). Free for every use, including commercial — no license needed. Other countries may differ.