For Holy Week

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.

Grant that I Thy passion view
With repentant grieving,
Nor Thee crucify anew
By unholy living.
How can I refuse to shun
Every sinful pleasure,
Since for me God’s only Son
Suffered without measure?

If my sins give me alarm,
And my conscience grieve me,
Let Thy cross my fear disarm,
Peace of conscience give me,
So that I with hope may see
This, Thy holy passion:
If God’s Son so loveth me,
God must have compassion.

—Traditional, from the German.