Jesus, I Will Ponder Now

Jesus, I will ponder now
On Your holy Passion;
Let Your Spirit now endow
Me for meditation.
Grant that I in love and faith
May the image cherish
Of Your suffering, pain and death
That I may not perish.

Make me see Your great distress,
Anguish, and affliction,
Bonds and stripes 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.

Let, 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.

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 Heav’n above
Sing your praise forever.