"O Darkest Woe"
                    by Johann Rist, 1607-1667, Stanzas 2-7
                 Translated by Catherine Winkworth, 1829-1878
                                  Text From:
                      THE HANDBOOK TO THE LUTHERAN HYMNAL
           (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1942) pp.130-131



        1. O darkest woe! 
        Ye tears, forth flow!
        Has earth so sad a wonder? 
        God the Father's only Son
        Now is buried yonder.
        
        2. O sorrow dread!
        God's Son is dead!
        But by His expiation
        Of our guilt upon the cross
        Gained for us salvation.
        
        3. O sinful man!
        It was the ban
        Of death on thee that brought Him
        Down to suffer for thy sins
        And such woe hath wrought Him.
        
        4. Lo, stained with blood,
        The Lamb of God,
        The Bridegroom, lies before thee,
        Pouring out His life that He
        May life restore thee.
        
        5. O Ground of faith,
        Laid low in death.
        Sweet lips. now silent sleeping!
        Surely all that live must mourn
        Here with bitter weeping.
        
        6. Oh. blest shall be
        Eternally
        Who oft in faith will ponder
        Why the glorious Prince of Life
        Should be buried yonder.

        7. O Jesus blest,
        My Help and Rest
        With tears I now entreat Thee:
        Make me love Thee to the last,
        Till in heaven I greet Thee!

        

        Notes from _The Lutheran Hymnal_
        Hymn #167 from _The Lutheran Handbook to the Hymnal_
        Text: Acts 3:15
        Author: Unknown, 1628, Stanza 1
        Author: Johann Rist, 1641, ab, Stanzas 2-7
        Translated by: Catherine Winkworth, 1863, alt.
        Titled: "ÒO Traurigkeit, o Herzelei"dÓ
        Tune: "ÒO Traurigkei"tÓ
        1st Published in: _Wuerzburger Gesangbuch_,Ó 1628