“O Sacred Head Now Wounded (Songs from Morning Prayer)” by Ben Ward. Released: 2024.
Lyrics: Bernard of Clairvaux, James W. Alexander (translator)
Music: Hans Leo Hassler, Johann Sebastian Bach (arranger)
1 O sacred Head, now wounded,
with grief and shame weighed down,
now scornfully surrounded
with thorns, Thine only crown.
O sacred Head, what glory,
what bliss till now was Thine!
Yet, though despised and gory,
I joy to call Thee mine.
2 What Thou, my Lord, hast suffered
was all for sinners’ gain;
mine, mine was the transgression,
but Thine the deadly pain.
Lo, here I fall, my Savior!
‘Tis I deserve Thy place;
look on me with Thy favor,
and grant to me Thy grace.
3 What language shall I borrow
to thank Thee, dearest Friend,
for this, Thy dying sorrow,
Thy pity without end?
O make me Thine forever!
And should I fainting be,
Lord, let me never, never
outlive my love to Thee.