Sunday, February 18, 2007

Thy cross, O Jesus

From "Melody Moments"...

Here is a Passion text by Erik Gustaf Geijer, published in 1812. The translation is by E. A. Edlen and the tune is a shortened version of SO GEHST DU NUN (The Lutheran Hymnal No. 150).

Thy cross, O Jesus, Thou didst bear
And yield Thyself an off’ring
To save a sinful world, which e’er
With scorn beholds Thy suff’ring.
O wondrous love From heav’n above,
To bleed for Thine accusers!

Thy cross, Redeemer, Thou didst bear
When all had Thee forsaken;
My sins and guilt Thou barest there,
Thy love hath me o’ertaken!
Thou callest me To come to Thee
And be Thy child forever.

Thy cross, O Savior, Thou didst bear:
Thy boundless might and glory,
Forever praised by angels fair,
And told in sacred story,
Thou didst resign, O love divine,
That conquereth in dying!

Thy cross to vict’ry Thou didst bear;
O grant that I, dear Savior,
May glory in the cross, and share
Thy heav’nly joy and favor.
Then shall my soul Have reach’d its goal,
Safe in Thy loving bosom.

IMAGE: Lotto, Lorenzo (1480-1556). Christ carrying the cross. Oil on canvas, 66 x 60 cm. Location: Louvre, Paris, France. Photo Credit: Erich Lessing / Art Resource, NY

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