O Sacred Head, Surrounded

Latin “Salve caput cruentatum”, attributed to Arnulf of Leuven (d. 1250); German by Paul Gerhardt (1607–1676)

O sacred head, surrounded

By crown of piercing thorn!

O bleeding head, so wounded,

Reviled and put to scorn!

Death's pallid hue comes o'er thee,

The glow of life decays;

Yet angel hosts adore thee,

And tremble as they gaze.

I see thy strength and vigour

All fading in the strife,

And death with cruel rigour,

Bereaving thee of life;

O agony and dying!

O love to sinners free!

Jesu, all grace supplying,

O turn thy face on me.

In this thy bitter passion,

Good Shepherd, think of me

With thy most sweet compassion,

Unworthy though I be:

Beneath thy cross abiding

For ever would I rest,

In thy dear love confiding,

And with thy presence blest.