1. Christ, who saves us by His cross
   And no sin committed,
   At the midnight hour for us
   Like a thief was treated,
   Brought before a godless hoard,
   Falsely charged, and smitten,
   Spat upon, and cruelly scorned,
   As in Scripture written.

2. In the first bright daylight hour
   Was He, cruelly beaten,
   Like a murd’rer set before
   Pilate, Roman heathen,
   Who then found Him innocent,
   From death to be sparèd,
   And who therefore had Him sent
   Thence unto King Herod.

3. At the third they scourged God’s Son
   And with whips they beat Him,
   Pierced His brow with thorny crown;
   Thus did they mistreat Him,
   Clothed in mockery and jest.
   Wounded then and weary,
   His own cross unto His death
   He was made to carry.

4. At the sixth, in nakedness
   There they crucified Him,
   Shed His blood in great distress;
   As He prayed, denied Him;
   Those who saw jeered at the sight,
   E’en those hanged beside Him,
   Till the sun withdrew her light,
   From such shame to hide Him.

5. At the ninth did Jesus call,
   Crying out, forsaken;
   Then was vinegar and gall
   Offered, but not taken.
   Then His spirit forth He sent,
   And the earth did rumble,
   As the Temple’s veil was rent
   And the stones did crumble.

6. As the thieves at Vespertide
   By their legs were broken,
   With a spear they pierced His side:
   Thus had Scripture spoken.
   Thence both blood and water flowed,
   Scripture thus fulfilling,
   As St. John in writing showed,
   Our salvation willing.

7. As the day drew to a close,
   Giving way to ev’ning,
   He was taken from the cross,
   Joseph’s care receiving,
   Honored in the Jewish way,
   In the grave enshrouded,
   Though the guards with Him would stay,
   As St. Matthew showed it.

8. Help us, Son of God, we pray,
   Through Thy bitter Passion,
   That in faithfulness we may
   Flee each sinful action,
   That Thy death, and sin its cause,
   Fruitfully we ponder,
   And, though weakness give us pause,
   Thanks to Thee we render.

Christus, der uns selig macht
Michael Weisse, 1531
Tr. composite