119. O Head! Once Full of Bruises

7,6.
by Bernard of Clairvaux
1
O Head! once full of bruises,
 
So full of pain and scorn,
 
Mid other sore abuses
 
Mocked with a crown of thorn;
 
O Head! e’en now surrounded
 
With brightest majesty,
 
In death once bowed and wounded
 
On the accursèd tree.
“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5)
“Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.” (Isaiah 53:10)
2
Thou Countenance transcendent!
 
Thou life-creating Sun!
 
To worlds on Thee dependent — 
 
Yet bruised and spit upon:
 
O Lord! what Thee tormented
 
Was our sin’s heavy load,
 
We had the debt augmented
 
Which Thou didst pay in blood.
3
We give Thee thanks unfeignèd,
 
O Savior! Friend in need,
 
For what Thy soul sustainèd
 
When Thou for us didst bleed;
 
Grant us to lean unshaken
 
Upon Thy faithfulness;
 
Until to glory taken,
 
We see Thee face to face.
“And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.” (Revelation 22:4)
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Little Flock Hymnbook Index