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)

A General Passion Hymn

O STORE GUD DIN KIERLIGHED [10]

tune: Durch Adams Fall

Translated by G. T. Rygh, 1908

 

1 Thy love, O gracious Lord and God,

All other loves excelling,

Attunes my heart to sweet accord,

And passes power of telling;

For when Thy wondrous love I see,

My heart yields glad submission;

I love Thee for Thy love to me

In my poor, lost condition.

 

2 Yea, Thou hast loved our fallen race,

And rather than condemn us,

Cast out and banish from Thy face,

Thine only Son didst send us;

Who died upon the cross, that we

Should all be saved forever;

Hence Jesus also died for me,

My soul, forget it never.

 

3 Thy love, O God, embraces all,

And Jesus' merits cover

The guilt of all, both great and small,

The world of sinners over.

Thy Spirit doth Thy light afford

To all who will receive it,

And from Thy knowledge bars Thy word

No soul who will believe it.

 

4 But what hath moved Thee, gracious Lord?

Why is Thine heart still yearning,

Since the great world rejects Thy word,

Thy love and mercy spurning?

For men go on in sin each day

In carnal-minded blindness

And O how few Thy call obey,

And heed Thy lovingkindness!

 

5 In us no beauty Thou couldst see,

And no intrinsic merit;

We all were poor-but misery

And sin we did inherit.

We wandered each a different path,

And in our lost condition,

By nature children of His wrath,

Whom sin doomed to perdition.

 

6 Our virtues and our own good deeds

With God cannot avail us;

With these the enemy misleads,

Such righteousness shall fail us;

Our will and strength and soul are dead

In evil inclination;

Christ Jesus has the ransom paid,

And gained for us salvation.

 

7 O gracious God, Thy loving heart

Was full of sweet compassion;

And felt our woe and desperate smart,

And planned our restoration;

Thy grace and justice found a way

To save us from death's horror;

And everlasting judgement stay,

And give us joy for sorrow.

 

8 On Christ, the rock, I'm anchored fast,

By faith in Him remaining;

I'll weather every stormy blast,

My peace of soul retaining;

On Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,

My ever firm foundation,

Until the harbor bar is crossed,

And I see God's salvation.

 

9 O Jesus, at my dying breath

Hold Thou my hand securely,

And may I in a living faith

Holy fast to Thee most surely;

That my last prayer to Thee may rise,

My soul to Thee commending,

And I shall find in Paradise

The joys of life unending.

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