"Upon the Cross Extended"

                    by Paul Gerhardt, 1607-1676

                                  Text From:

                       THE LUTHERAN HYMNAL

        (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1941)







        1. Upon the cross extended,

        See, world, thy Lord suspended,

        Thy Savior yields His breath.

        The Prince of Life from heaven

        Himself hath freely given

        To shame and blows and bitter death.



        2. Come hither now and ponder,

        'Twill fill thy soul with wonder,

        Blood streams from every pore.

        Through grief whose depth none knoweth,

        From His great heart there floweth

        Sigh after sigh of anguish o'er.



        3. Who is it that hath bruised Thee?

        Who hath so sore abused Thee

        And caused Thee all Thy woe?

        While we must make confession

        Of sin and dire transgression,

        Thou deeds of evil dost not know.



        4. I caused Thy grief and sighing

        By evils multiplying

        As countless as the sands.

        I caused the woes unnumbered

        With which Thy soul is cumbered,

        Thy sorrows raised by wicked hands.



        5. 'Tis I who should be smitten

        My doom should here be written:

        Bound hand and foot in hell.

        The fetters and the scourging,

        The floods around Thee surging,

        'Tis I who have deserved them well.



        6. The load Thou takest on Thee,

        That pressed so sorely on me,

        t crushed me to the ground.

        The cross for me enduring,

        The crown for me securing,

        My healing in Thy wounds is found.



        7. A crown of thorns Thou wearest,

        My shame and scorn Thou bearest,

        That I might ransomed be.

        My Bondsman, ever willing,

        My place with patience filling,

        From sin and guilt hast made me free.



        8. Thy cords of love, my Savior,

        Bind me to Thee forever,

        I am no longer mine.

        To Thee I gladly tender

        All that my life can render

        And all I have to Thee resign.



        9. Thy cross I'll place before me,

        Its saving power be o'er me,

        Wherever I may be;

        Thine innocence revealing,

        Thy love and mercy sealing,

        The pledge of truth and constancy.



        10. How God at our transgression

        To anger gives expression,

        How loud His thunder rolls,

        How fearfully He smiteth,

        How sorely He requiteth,-

        All this Thy sufferings teach my soul.



        11. When evil men revile me,

        With wicked tongues defile me,

        I'll curb my vengeful heart.

        The unjust wrong I'll suffer,

        Unto my neighbor offer

        Forgiveness for each bitter smart.



        12. Thy groaning and thy sighing,

        Thy bitter tears and dying,

        With which Thou wast opprest,-

        They shall, when life is ending,

        Be guiding and attending

        My way to Thine eternal rest.



        


        Notes:

        Hymn #171 from _The Lutheran Hymnal_

        Text: Heb. 9:28

        Author: Paul Gerhardt

        Translated by: John Kelly, 1867, alt.

        Titled: O Welt, sieh hier dein Leben

        Composer: Heinrich Friese, 1703

        Tune: O Welt, sieh hier