Music by English traditional, words by Catherine Helene von Poseck
Father divine, in grateful love
We bow before Your face,
While for Your gift unspeakable
Our souls o'erflow with praise;
Your only Son, Your heart's delight
Before all time began
You in such boundless love did give
To die for ruined man.
You sent Him down, well knowing all
That lay before Him here
The thorny crown, the purple robe,
The gall, the cruel spear
And in that hour of woe supreme
Did Jesus bear our sin--
The patient, holy, suffering Lamb
Of God forsaken then.
Father, this mystery of love
Must all our praise excel.
No human, no angelic tongue
Its wondrous depths can tell
For what were we that You on us
Such love would ever pour?
We bow, and, filled with joy and awe,
Father and Son adore.