#151 The Lutheran Hymnal

Christ, the Life of All the Living

Ernst C. Homburg, 1659, translated by Catherine Winkworth, 1863

Christ, the Life of all the living, Christ, the Death of death, our foe,
Who, Thyself for me once giving, To the darkest depths of woe, 
Thro Thy suff'rings, death, and merit I eternal life inherit:
Thousand, thousand thanks shall be, Dearest Jesus unto Thee.


Heartless scoffers did surround Thee, Treating Thee with shameful scorn
And with piercing thorns they crowned Thee, All disgrace Thou, Lord, hast borne
That as Thine Thou mightest own me And with heavenly glory crown me.
Thousand, thousand thanks shall be, Dearest Jesus, unto Thee.


Thou has suffered men to bruise Thee That from pain I might be free;
Falsely did thy foes accuse Thee, thence I gain security;
Comfortless Thy soul did languish Me to comfort in my anguish.
Thousand, thousand thanks shall be, Dearest Jesus, unto Thee.


Thou hast suffered great affliction And hast borne it patiently,
Even death by crucifixion, Fully to atone for me;
Thou didst choose to be tormented That my doom should be prevented.
Thousand, thousand thanks shall be, Dearest Jesus unto Thee.


Then for all that wrought my pardon, For Thy sorrows deep and sore, 
For Thine anguish in the Garden, I will thank Thee evermore,
Thank Thee for They groaning, sighing, For Thy bleeding and Thy dying, 
For that last triumphant cry, And shall praise Thee, Lord, on high.