"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.

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        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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        This text was converted to ascii format for Project Wittenberg
        by Cindy A. Beesley and is in the public domain.  You may
        freely distribute, copy or print this text.  Please direct any
        comments or suggestions to: Rev. Robert E. Smith of the Walther
        Library at Concordia Theological Seminary.

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