1 Our blessed Savior sev'n times spoke
When on the cross our sins He took
And died lest we should perish.
Let us His last and dying words
In our remembrance cherish.
2 "Father, forgive these men; for, lo,
They truly know not what they do."
So far His love extended.
Forgive us, Lord, for we, too, have
Through ignorance offended.
3 Now to the contrite thief He cries:
"Thou, verily, in Paradise
Shalt meet Me ere tomorrow."
Lord, take us to Thy kingdom soon
Who linger here in sorrow.
4 To weeping Mary, standing by,
"Behold thy son," now hear Him cry;
To John, "Behold thy mother."
Provide, O Lord, for those we leave:
Let each befriend the other.
5 The Savior's fourth word was "I thirst."
O mighty Prince of Life, Thy thirst
For us and our salvation
Is truly great; do help us, then,
That we escape damnation.
6 The fifth, "My God, My God, O why
Forsake Me?" Hark, the awe-full cry!
Lord, Thou wast here forsaken
That we might be received on high;
Let this hope not be shaken.
7 The sixth, when victory was won,
"'Tis finished!" for Thy work was done.
Grant, Lord, that, onward pressing,
We may the work Thou dost impose
Fulfil with Thine own blessing.
8 The last, as woe and suff'rings end,
"O God, My Father, I commend
Into Thy hands My spirit."
Be this, dear Lord, my dying wish;
O heav'nly Father, hear it.
9 Whoe'er, by sense of sin oppressed,
Upon these words his thoughts will rest,
He joy and hope obtaineth
And through God's love and boundless grace
A peaceful conscience gaineth.
10 O Jesus Christ, Thou Crucified,
Who hast for our offenses died,
Grant that we e'er may ponder
Thy wounds, Thy cross, Thy bitter death,
Both here below and yonder.
Source: Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary #337
Böschenstein, Johann, son of Heinrich Böschenstein, a native of Stein on the Rhine, was born at Esslingen, Wurttemberg, in 1472. After taking Holy Orders as a priest he became, in 1505, tutor of Hebrew at Ingolstadt. Leaving this in 1514 he went to Augsburg, where, in the same year, he published a Hebrew Grammar, and in 1518, by the recommendation of Reuchlin, was invited as tutor of Greek and Hebrew to Wittenberg, where he had Melanchthon as a pupil. In 1519 he went to Nürnberg; 1521 to Heidelberg; and in 1522 to Antwerp. After a short stay in Zurich, where he taught Hebrew to Zwingli, he settled, in 1523, at Augsburg, where he became by royal license teacher of Hebrew, and where he d. 1539. (Koch, i. 219-221, ii. 469-471; Allgemeine De… Go to person page >
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