HYMNS ON THE PASSION

which can be used in the congregations during Lent

at the weekly service and on Days of Prayer

according to the custom of each place

[by Thomas Kingo]

[from the Gradual of 1699]

[Translation © Mark DeGarmeaux unless noted]

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Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary home page (ELH has 16 hymns by Thomas Kingo)

O come, let us worship (A Study in Lutheran Liturgy and Hymnody by M. DeGarmeaux) (107k)

The Path of Understanding -- The Development of Lectionaries and their use in the Lutheran Church (by the Rev. Alexander Ring)

The Sleeping Disciples

SOFVER I? HVOR KAND I SOFVE* [13]

 

1 Sleeping now, how can ye slumber?

O ye watchmen of the soul!

Sleeping still, all three in number?

Where is now your faith so bold?

Can ye time for sleeping find

While God's Son in soul and mind

Sore is pressed and harshly driven

As a wretch to death's dark prison?

 

2 Can ye not e'en watch one hour?

Jesus says, and He is right,

That security's ripe power

Blinds the soul and dulls the sight.

Is your heart so closed to Me

And your slumber so carefree

While all innocent I languish

With all pain and woe and anguish?

 

3 In My great affliction, breaking

Into bloody sweat and care,

Never from your slumber waking

Still of Me all unaware.

No one thinks of My great need;

No one pities death's dark deed;

No one wipes my moistened forehead,

Though it were ten times as horrid.

 

4 I alone with burden bending,

I alone abandoned fight.

I alone, with heart now rending,

Enter now the cruel night!

See, My Father silent now

He forsakes Me here and now!

No one in the world is sharing

All the sorrow I am bearing.

 

5 Oh! How can you still now slumber,

Oversleeping all My woe?

Were you blind and dumb to lumber,

Could you nothing hear and know?

While upon the mount stood,

Fear struck deep into your blood,

But it was for heaven's wonder

That you saw Me dressed in splendor.

 

6 But now death with terror growing

Steals across My tearful eyes,

Now My blood on earth is flowing

Now My soul is filled with sighs,

Now will no one with me stand?

Now will no one lend a hand?

No one will disturb his sleeping,

While I bear all pain and weeping.

 

7 Peter, full of promise, Peter,

Where are now your words so bold?

Sleeping while I sorrow meet here

In My mind and in My soul.

Satan asked to torment thee

While I prayed so earnestly.

While in dangerous seas I'm sailing,

Your life from all danger veiling.

 

8 How will My life find expressing

In your deep "forgetting" book?

Now My Father Me is pressing

Under death's most woeful yoke.

This your heart must testify,

As the world now passes by,

How true friends their help are lending

In your need, when fortune ending.

 

9 Had you known then danger's worry,

Had you known the need so great,

Had you only seen before you,

Snares of death which for you wait-

O how could I let you see

Dangers that await you three,

Praying God to grant you favor

In temptation ne'er to waver.

 

10 For then Judas, My betrayer

Who had sold Me shamefully

Stood there ready to draw nearer

Quickly to deliver Me

He in spirit now was glad!

While I did My lifeblood shed-

E'en for him and all to suffer,

Once for all My life to offer.

 

11 O my Jesus, how I grieve me

And bewail most heartily

That my confidence deceives me

And so oft has blinded me

When I ever think of Thee

And Thy blood and wounds for me,

Still hell's dragon would o'ertake me

And with love of sin retake me.

 

12 These disciples should have heeded

Three times only to Thy call

But ten thousand times I've needed

Thy strong warning more than all!

I lie here so blind and cold,

Sleeping deep in passions old

Ne'er to wake and hear and greet Thee

When Thy Spirit comes to meet me.

 

13 Wake me now and let me never

Into death's dread sleep retreat

All my selfish bonds then sever

Friend of souls, O Jesus sweet.

Let my eye look steadfastly

On Thy pain and woe for me;

Let me in the dark of dying

Only be on Thee relying.

 

 

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