1 Jesus, I will ponder now
on your holy passion;
with your Spirit me endow
me for meditation.
Grant that I in love and faith
may the image cherish
of your suff'ring, pain, and death
that I may not perish.
2 Make me see your great distress,
anguish, and affliction,
bonds and blows and wretchedness
and your crucifixion;
make me see how scourge and rod,
spear and nails did wound you,
how you died for those, O God,
who with thorns had crowned you.
3 Yet, O Lord, not thus alone
make me see your passion,
but its cause to me make known
and its termination.
For I also and my sin
wrought your deep affliction;
this the shameful cause has been
of your crucifixion.
4 Let me view your pain and loss
with repentant grieving;
nor prepare again your cross
by unholy living.
May I give you love for love!
Hear me, O my Savior,
that I may in heaven above
sing your praise forever.
