Traditional:
1. Jesus Christ, Thou King supreme,
Thou of great and fearsome gleam,
Thou who grantest every Christian
Healing, life, and sin's remission:
Fountain where all good is giv'n—
Grant me, too, the joys of heav'n!
2. Faithful Lord, receive my plea,
Hold in gracious memory,
How Thou camest to creation,
Suff'ring bitter pain and passion,
That in heav'n on yonder day
We might fly from earth's dismay.
3. Never didst Thou rest or sleep
Till Thou found’st Thy wand'ring sheep
But Thou bor’st the cross to save me,
Thus Thy death my freedom gave me:
Oh, may all Thine agony
Never prove misspent on me.
4. Just Avenger of all ill,
How I crave Thy kind goodwill!
Grant me in Thy tender caring
Pardon for my sin and erring,
Ere that dreadful day shall dawn
Set for judging Adam's spawn.
5. For my deeds I sigh and mourn;
Rightly have they earned Thy scorn;
All my sins, each bold omission,
Makes me blush with true contrition
God, I beg Thy clemency
Spare me in my misery!
6. Mary found Thy grace immense
Through her tearful penitence;
And the thief, contrite in dying,
Mercy found in Thy replying;
May I also, as is just,
Fix on Thee my hope and trust.
7. Such a grace my humble plea
Scarcely hopes to merit me,
Oh, my Crown, with grace unending
Ever be my soul defending,
That I may not come to dwell
In the endless woes of hell.
8. Grant that I may closely keep
Where Thou wilt dispose Thy sheep;
Save me from the goats in error,
Whom Thy judgments fill with terror;
Bid me enter on the right,
And behold Thy glorious light.
9. When in wrath Thou shalt inflict
By the lips of judgment strict
Sulph'rous fires of condemnation
On the cursèd congregation,
Speak to me as to a son:
“Come, oh, come, thou blessed one!"
10. That in heaven's halls I may
Midst Thy hallowed number stay
Whom Thy hands have reinstated,
And with pureness coronated,
Full of joy and free of pain,
Thine forever to remain.
Contemporary:
1. Jesus Christ, our King supreme,
You of great and fearsome gleam,
You who grant to every Christian
Healing, life, and sin's remission:
Fountain where all good is giv'n—
Grant me, too, the joys of heav'n!
2. Faithful Lord, receive my plea,
Hold in gracious memory,
How You entered Your creation,
Suff'ring bitter pain and passion,
That in heav'n on yonder day
We might leave this earth's dismay.
3. Never did You rest or sleep
Till You found Your wand'ring sheep
But You bore the cross to save me,
Won my soul and freedom gave me:
Oh, may all Your agony
Never prove misspent on me.
4. Just Avenger of all ill,
How I crave Your kind goodwill!
Grant me in Your tender caring
Pardon for my sin and erring,
Ere that dreadful day shall dawn
Set for judging Adam's spawn.
5. For my deeds I sigh and mourn;
Rightly have they earned Your scorn;
All my sins, each bold omission,
Makes me blush with true contrition
God, I beg Your clemency
Spare me in my misery!
6. Mary found Your grace immense
Through her tearful penitence;
And the thief, contrite in dying,
Mercy found in Your replying
May I also, as is just,
Fix on You my hope and trust.
7. Such a grace my humble plea
Scarcely hopes to merit me;
Oh, my Strength, with grace unending
Ever be my soul defending,
That I may not come to dwell
In the endless woes of hell.
8. Grant that I may closely keep
Where You choose to send Your sheep;
Save me from the goats in error,
Whom Your judgments fill with terror;
Bid me enter on the right,
And behold Your glorious light.
9. When in wrath You must inflict
By the lips of judgment strict
Sulph'rous fires of condemnation
On the cursèd congregation,
Speak to me as to a son:
"Come, oh, come, you blessèd one!"
10. That in heaven's hall I may
Midst Your hallowed number stay
Whom Your hand has reinstated,
And with pureness coronated,
Full of joy and free of pain,
Yours forever to remain.
Translation © Matthew Carver, 2009.
GERMAN
1. Höchster König, Jesu Christ!
Der du groß und schrecklich bist,
der du willst umsonst das Leben
allen Auserwählten geben,
Brunnquell aller Gütigkeit,
führ mich auch zur Himmelsfreud.
2. Frommer Herr, ach! höre mich,
und erinn're gnädig dich,
daß du in die welt bist kommen,
Kreuz und Tod auf dich genommen,
daß ich dort an jenem Tag
aller Qual entgehen mag.
3. Du hast eher nicht gerast't,
bis du mich gefunden hast,
bist am Kreuz für mich gestorben,
daß du meine Seel erworben;
O laß solche Müh und Pein
an mir nicht verloren sein.
4. Rechter Rächer aller Schuld
ich begehre deine Huld,
laß Vergebung meiner Sünden
mich bei deiner Güte finden,
eh' der große Tag einfällt,
der zur Rechnung ist bestellt.
5. Ich beseufze meine That,
die den Zorn verdienet hat;
es erröthen meine Wangen
über dem, was ich begangen.
Ach! ich bitt' in solcher Noth,
schone meiner, treuer Gott!
6. Weil Maria fand Genad
da sie thränend Buße that;
weil dem Schächer ward gewähret,
was sein Mund von dir begehret;
setze billig auch noch ich
meine Hoffnung fest auf dich.
7. Mein Gebet ist zwar nicht werth,
daß ihm solches widerfährt;
aber du, mein Hort, verhüte,
aus unendlich großer Güte,
daß nicht in der Höllen Weh
ich in Ewigkeit vergeh.
8. Hilf! daß, wo du stellest hin
deine Schäflein, ich auch bin!
reiß mich ferne von den Böcken,
die ein strenger Spruch wird schrecken;
laß mich zu der rechten stehn,
und zur Herrlichkeit eingehn.
9. Wenn du wirst in deinem Grimm,
durch des strengen Urtheils Stimm,
zu der Höllen Pfuhl und Flammen
die verfluchte Schaar verdammen,
sprich mir, wie den Frommen, zu:
Komm, gesegneter, auch du!
10. Daß ich in des Himmels Saal,
unter deiner heil'gen Zahl,
die du selber ausgesöhnet,
und mit Unschuld hast gekrönet,
Freudenvoll, ohn einzig Leid,
leb in alle Ewigkeit.
