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)

Another General Passion Hymn

O JESU VERDENS FRELSERMAND* [10]

tune: Ich ruf zu dir

 

1 Redeemer of the world, O Christ,

Thou Prince of Life enchanting,

Like as the deer for waters thirsts

My soul for Thee is panting.

O Thou, the Father's only Son

Descended down from heaven

By love driven

To rescue Adam's own

That Satan might be overthrown.

 

2 Since I and all mankind once were

Cast deep into death's yawning

By Adam's sin in danger were

And Satan's cruel dawning

In fulness of the time Thou came

And born of Virgin Mary

For to bury

Our death and all our blame

And Satan's might to put to shame.

 

3 Thy Father's wrath and fearful ban

Naught else could e'er extinguish

Except for Thee, true God and Man;

Our deed Thou didst accomplish

And for us hardship to endure

Thyself to death now giving

And be living,

A bloody offering for

The whole world's sin Thou dost outpour.

 

4 Thy precious blood atonement sends

The sin of all men sharing

For sin Thou makest full amends

Eternal death us sparing

Lest we remain impenitent

In sin rejecting Thy name

To our deep blame

And lose our home in heaven,

To blasphemy and sin e'er giv'n.

 

5 No longer earth doth pleasure me

Nor riches me are taking

Nor power nor height that I may see

At all my pleasure making

Compared to Jesus' mercy free

His precious cross and sighing

And His dying;

The world doth weary me

Gladly in heav'n I now would be.

 

6 And if my sins still more may be

Than sands upon the seashore

If Satan my affliction see

And every day tempt me more

In faith I trod him to the ground;

With Jesus' precious merit

I may bear it

In Him I grace have found

Which has no measure and no bound.

 

7 And shall I under God's good will

Still more than others carry

My burden of both pain and ill,

A cross to make me weary;

Thou for my soul true good dost earn,

For Thou my cross art bearing,

My stripes wearing,

That patience I may learn

And ever more for heaven yearn.

 

8 If I'm oppressed by many foes

And persecuted for Thee

Receiving many powerful blows

Yet it shall be my glory

So let them with their might and fear

Now persecute and slay me

Willing shall be

My heart when now appear

Before my eyes Thy pains severe.

 

9 When weakness over me doth flow

When sickness, pain, and sorrow

Shall grip me all from head to toe

Deep in my bone and marrow

Then comfort me with Thy dear power

To which my soul is cleaving

And receiving

Thy blood, a precious shower

To soothe my wounds in every hour.

 

10 And when at last in death I sleep

My eyes at last be resting

Then nothing in my final sleep

Shall me from faith be wresting

For by Thy death I bold may be

And on Thy faith relying

In my dying;

Then take my soul to Thee,

Thee I will praise eternally.

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