I

When Thou, O Christ, upon the tree,

Wert bearing pain for sinful men,

The sun, lamenting, hid his face,

And clothed himself with darkness then;

II

And o’er the world, when noontide came,

The light grew faint and faded soon;

And men in wonder saw the dark

Bring in the night at hour of noon.

III

But, low in Hades’ depths there shone

Such light as never shone before;

And prisoners saw the Light of lights,

And joyed to feel their bondage o’er.

IV

O blessed art Thou, Christ, our Lord,

For all the pain so meekly borne;

The dark that hid Thee in Thy woe,

Has ushered in a glorious morn.