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)

Jesus is Sent to Herod

TIL HERODES JESUS FØRES* [8]

tune: previous tune

 

1 Unto Herod Jesus goeth

To the fox a Lamb they send

How the tyrant's hope now groweth

Not because he is His friend.

But because he waits to see

What a miracle might be

Now the moment he is seizing

To fulfil his selfish pleasing.

 

2 And the Jewish leaders follow ;

All against Him take their stand,

Crying loud with voices hollow,

Accusations all in hand.

What before they could not bring,

Now more boldly they do fling

Lies and tarnished speeches making,

If they can His soul be breaking.

 

3 With no sign will Jesus cheer him

And no answer will He make

As the deaf who has no hearing

As the mute who cannot speak,

Jesus silent will remain

But our God in heavenly reign

Shall His cause to light be bringing

And from harshest woes Him springing.

 

4 Jesus sees that truth is failing

Herod never takes it on,

So the earth must now be hailing

Martyred blood of blessed John

So for Jesus it appears

Justice will give way to spears,

Thus He keeps Himself from speaking

Justice with His Father seeking.

 

5 All the shame and cruel jeering

Scorn and ridicule and blood

Our poor Jesus must be bearing

All for our eternal good.

If now Herod mocks His name

And the soldiers bring Him shame

Thousand times and worse the laughter

Brought by rogues upon the Master.

 

6 For their wicked entertainment

They do all to bring Him scorn

With a royal purple raiment

They bedeck His wretched form.

Now so far from hope He goes

Wretched man in wicked throes,

Filled with shame of evil making,

Which must now God's heart be breaking.

 

7 Herod now with Pilate teaming

Former enemies are friends

They give more respect, esteeming,

Than they formerly intend

Mockery at Jesus hurled

As it goes in all the world

Jesus is the Mediator

E'en for wicked king and traitor.

 

8 When, O Jesus, I do ponder

All Thy suffering and Thy blood

In my heart I truly wonder

On Thy grace and every good

How therein is all my shame

And my evil by Thy name

Covered now before God's viewing,

Me eternal life imbuing.

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