German text
Da Jesus an dem Kreuze hieng,
und ihm sein heiliger Leib zergieng
so gar aus bitterlichen Schmerzen,
die sieben Wort, die Jesus sprach,
Mensch, betracht's in deinem Herzen.
Das erst Wort red't Gott gar sueßigleich
gen seinem Vater von Himmelreich,
mit Kräften und mit Sinnen:
"Vater, vergieb ihn'n, sie wissen nit,
was sie an mir haben gesündet."
Zuem andern Mal gedenk, seiner Barmherzigkeit,
die Jesus an den Schächer hat geleit.
Vergab ihm gar genädigleichen:
"Fürwahr, heint wirst du bei mir sein
in meines Vaters Reiche."
Das dritte Wort red't Gott aus großer Pein.
Mensch, lass dir das Wort befolchen sein:
"Weib, erkenn dein'n Suhn gar eben!
Johannes, nimb deiner Mutter wahr;
du sollst ihr gar treulichen pflegen."
Das vierte Wort red't Gott gar traurigleich
gen seinem Vater von Himmelreich:
"Mein Gott, wie hast du mich verlassen?
Die Marter, die ich da leiden mueß,
die ist groß über die Maßen."
Sieh, merk, Mensch, was das fünft Wort was!
Gott sprach: "Mich dürst!"
Ohn Unterlaß rueft Gott mit lauter Stimme.
Ein Mensch, der des ewigen Lebens begehrt,
seiner Gnad wird er empfinden.
Das sechste war gar ein kräftig Wort,
das maniger Sünder hat oft gehort
aus seinem göttlichen Munde:
"Es ist vollbracht meines Leidens
so groß wohl hie zu dieser Stunde.
Das siebent Wort:
"Vater, ich empfilch dir in dein Händ den heiligen Geist,
den du mir hast gesendt wohl hie zue diesen Zeiten;
wann sich die Seel' von dem Leib tuet scheiden,
sie kann und mag nit länger beleiben."
Und wer das Gottswort in Ehren hat
und oft gedenkt der Sieben Wort,
des will Gott gar gnediglichen pflegen
hie auf Erd in der zeitlichen Ehr,
dort in dem ewigen Leben.
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English translation
When on the cross the Saviour hung,
And that sore load that on Him weigh'd
With bitter pangs his nature wrung,
Seven words amid His pain He said:
Oh let them well to heart be laid!
"Father, forgive these men;" He spake;
"For lo! they know not what they do,
Nor of my sufferings vengeance take!"
And when we sin in error too,
For us, dear Lord, this prayer renew!
He thought upon the thief, and said,--
"Thou shalt behold my Paradise
With me, ere yet this day be fled."
Lord, see us too with pitying eyes,
And raise us from our miseries!
His mother stood beside Him there;
"Behold thy son! Oh let her find
A son, O John, in thy true care,"
Lord, care for those we leave behind,
Nor let the world prove all unkind!
Once more He saith,--"I thirst, I thirst!"
O Prince of Life! that we might be
Rescued from death, Thou dar'st the worst.
So dost Thou long to set us free!
Not fruitless be that thirst in Thee!
Again, "My God, My God," He cried,
Ah why dost Thou forsake me thus?"
Thou art forsaken at this tide,
To win acceptance, Lord, for us;
Oh comfort deep and marvellous!
He saith,--"Lo! it is finish'd now!"
Saviour, Thy perfect work is done!
O make us faithful, Lord, as Thou,
No trial and no cross to shun
Till all Thou lay'st on us be done.
And last,--"My Father, to Thine hands
My parting soul I now commend."
Lord, when my spirit trembling stands
Upon life's verge, this cry I send
To Thee, and with Thy words I end.
Whoso shall ponder oft these words
When long-past sins his soul alarm,
Shall find the hope Thy cross accords,
And in Thy grace a healing balm
That brings the wounded conscience calm.
Lord Jesu Christ, who diedst for us,
This one thing grant us evermore;
To ponder o'er Thy passion thus,
Till truer, deeper than before
We learn to love Thee and adore!
- Translation by Catherine Winkworth
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English translation
Man, think well upon the seven things that Jesus said,
as he was hanging on the cross and his holy body was failing,
with bitter pains, and hold them in your heart.
The first which He, who is God,
spoke to His father in Heaven, was:
'Father, forgive them, for they do not know
what sin they have committed against me.'
Secondly, think of the mercy which He showed
to the thief when He said:
'Truly, today you will be with me in my father's kingdom.'
A third time He spoke, in great pain;
Man, note it:
'Woman, behold your son.
John, this shall be your mother: care for her.'
The fourth time that He spoke,
it was to His heavenly Father, with great sorrow:
'My God, how have you forsaken me?
The torture which I must endure
is beyond all measure.'
Man, hear the fifth words that God spoke:
'I thirst',
calling incessantly on God with a loud voice.
Whoever desires eternal life
will find mercy with Him.
The sixth were powerful words,
which many sinners have often heard
from His divine mouth:
'My great suffering is at an end.'
The seventh words:
'Father, into your hands I commend the Holy Spirit
which you sent me,
when the soul parts from the body,
for it can no longer tarry.'
Whosoever honours God's word
and often reflects on the seven words
will receive God's mercy
here on earth in the temporal realm,
and in eternal life.
- Translation by Mick Swithinbank
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