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]

Return to Mark DeGarmeaux's home page

E-mail me for permission to use or to comment on translation and suggest improvements

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)

After the Sermon

On the Seven Words Jesus Spoke on the Cross

GACK UNDER JESU KORS AT STAA* [17]

tune: Jesu søde Hukommelse

 

1 Come under Jesus' cross to stand,

O dearest soul, and now attend,

Hear Jesus' final words so sweet,

As He His final hour doth meet.

 

2 Upon the cross my Jesus lay

Despite the dragon's devious way,

The voice of grace resounded clear

With life and comfort us to cheer.

 

3 First for His enemies He says:

Father, forgive them in Thy grace

They know not what they do today,

So blind are they to sin's dark way.

 

4 O Jesus, also pray for me

Thou seest how weak and frail I be

In all my ways my whole life long

But by Thy prayer I am made strong.

 

5 He looked upon His mother dear

All filled with sorrow, pain, and fear,

Pierced through, her very soul and life

With murder's sword and killing knife.

 

6 He gave to her another son

To soothe and comfort all her pain.

John, take her as thine own for me;

Henceforth thy mother now to be.

 

7 O Jesus, when I too am lost,

Forsaken, burdened by a cross,

Friendless, surrounded all by sin,

Send faithful friends to take me in.

 

8 The thief repented of his sin

And turned to Christ to take him in

Christ broke for him death's cruel ties:

Today you enter Paradise.

 

9 Let me then in my final hour

Receive from Jesus comfort's power

O daily let me mend my ways

And make me heaven's child always.

 

10 How horrible the fourth sad word!

Such grief hath heaven never heard:

My God, My God, oh why hast Thou

Forsaken Me, so needy now?

 

11 'Twas for my sin Thou suffered all,

And God's fierce wrath on Thee did fall.

That I forsaken ne'er shall be

When death's dark shadow falls on me.

 

12 God's anger with its burning flame

Consumed the vigor of His frame!

"I thirst," he said, and then received

The vinegar which sorely grieved.

 

13 With taste so bitter yet He saith:

Now "It is finished" with His death

All that the Scriptures testified

Is now complete when He has died.

 

14 So willingly Thou takest in

The sour and bitter taste of sin!

From Adam's sin I drank in first,

But Thou drank poison in Thy thirst.

 

15 Therefore I thirst deep in my heart

That Thou to me wouldst yet impart

Not bitter drink, but waters pure,

Which flow from Thee forevermore.

 

16 His final words then Jesus spoke

All filled with certainty and hope:

"Father, into Thy precious hand

My soul and spirit I commend."

 

17 These words the words my heart must find

Impressed upon my soul and mind;

These words may I repeat with mirth

At last when I depart this earth.

Send comments to: gargy@carolinainternationalschool.org