"Jesus, I Will Ponder Now"

                        by Sigismund v. Birken

            Translated by August Crull, 1845-1923

                                 Text From:

                      THE LUTHERAN HYMNAL

        (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1941)







        1. Jesus, I will ponder now

        On Thy holy Passion;

        With Thy Spirit me endow

        For such meditation.

        Grant that I in love and faith

        May the image cherish

        Of Thy suffering, pain, and death,

        That I may not perish.



        2. Make me see Thy great distress,

        Anguish, and affliction,

        Bonds and stripes and wretchedness

        And Thy crucifixion;

        Make me see how scourge and rod,

        Spear and nails, did wound Thee,

        How for man Thou diedst, O God,

        Who with thorns had crowned Thee.



        3.  Yet, O Lord, not thus alone

        Make me see Thy Passion,

        But its cause to me make known

        And its termination.

        Ah! I also and my sin

        Wrought Thy deep affliction;

        This indeed the cause hath been

        Of Thy crucifixion.



        4. Grant that I Thy Passion view

        With repentant grieving

        Nor Thee crucify anew

        By unholy living.

        How could I refuse to shun

        Every sinful pleasure

        Since for me God's only Son

        Suffered without measure?



        5. If my sins give me alarm

        And my conscience grieve me,

        Let Thy cross my fear disarm,

        Peace of conscience give me.

        Grant that I may trust in Thee

        And Thy holy Passion.

        If His Son so loveth me,

        God must have compassion.



        6. Grant that I may willingly

        Bear with Thee my crosses,

        Learning humbleness of Thee,

        Peace mid pain and losses.

        May I give Thee love for love!

        Hear me, O my Savior,

        That I may in heaven above

        Sing Thy praise forever.



        


        Notes:

        Hymn #140 from The Lutheran Hymnal

        Text: Luke 18: 31-34

        Author: Sigismund v. Birken, 1653

        Translated by: August Crull, 1923, alt.

        Titled: "Jesu, deine Passion"

        Composer: Melchior Vulpius, 1609

        Tune: "Jesu Kreuz, Leiden und Pein"


           

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