The dying robber raised his aching brow

The dying robber raised his aching brow

Tune: OLD 124TH
Published in 3 hymnals

Printable scores: PDF, MusicXML
Audio files: MIDI

Representative Text

1. The dying robber raised his aching brow
To claim the dying Lord for company;
And heard, in answer to his trembling bow,
The promise of the King: Thou—even thou—
Today shalt be in Paradise with me.

2. We, too, the measure of our guilt confess,
Knowing Thy mercy, Lord, our only plea;
That we, like him, through judgment and distress,
For all the weight of our unworthiness
May win our way to Paradise with Thee.

3. But so bewildered is our failing heart,
So dim the luster of Thy royalty,
We hardly know Thee, Lord, for what Thou art,
Till we begin to take the better part
And lose ourselves in Paradise with Thee.

4. Then lift our eyes, dear Lord, from this poor dross,
To see Thee reigning in humility,
The King of love; that, wresting gain from loss,
We, too, may climb the ladder of the cross,
To find our home in Paradise with Thee.

The Thief on the Cross

5. Three crosses rose on Calvary against the iron sky
Each with its living burden, each with its human cry.
And all the ages watched there, and there were you and I.

6. One bore the God incarnate, reviled by man’s disdain,
Who through the woe He suffered for our eternal gain,
With joy of infinite loving assuaged His infinite pain.

7. On one the thief repentant conquered his cruel doom,
Who called at last on Christ and saw His glory through the gloom.
For him after the torment, souls of the blest made room.

8. And one the unrepentant bore, who his harsh fate defied.
To him, the child of darkness, all mercy was denied;
Nailed by his brothers on the cross, he cursed his God and died.

9. Ah, Christ, who met in Paradise him who had eyes to see,
Didst Thou not greet the other in hell’s black agony?
And if he knew Thy face, Lord, what did he say to Thee?

10. Harriet Monroe, You and I, 1914

Source: The Cyber Hymnal #1286

Text Information

First Line: The dying robber raised his aching brow
Language: English

Tune

OLD 124TH

GENEVAN 124 (also known as OLD 124TH) was first published in the 1551 edition of the Genevan Psalter. Dale Grotenhuis (PHH 4) harmonized the tune in 1985. One of the best known from the Genevan Psalter, the tune is published in most North American hymnals. By 1564 it was adopted in English and Scott…

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Media

The Cyber Hymnal #1286
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The Cyber Hymnal #1286

Include 2 pre-1979 instances
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