The Passion

of Our Lord
Jesus Christ
according to
S. Matthew
Johann Sebastian
Bach
 The text of

Passio Domini nostri J.C. secundum Evangelistam Matthæum

by

Johann Sebastian Bach,

written by

Christian Friedrich Henrici,

otherwise known as

Picander,

translated to English by

Sir Edward Elgar

and

Sir Ivor Atkins.

The text of most choruses, chorales, arias and recitatives are from the 1911 Novello edition of the
St. Matthew Passion by Edward Elgar and Ivor Atkins. The aria n. 41 (Geduld, geduld! ) is from
the 1906 Breitkopf & Härtel edition by Claude Aveling with revision by The Bach Choir. The texts
from the Holy Scriptures are from the Authorized Version with modifications by The Bach Choir.
The text here presented was organized to match the recording of the St. Matthew Passion by The
Bach Choir conducted by Sir David Willcocks in 1979 under the label of Decca.

The 1911 edition of the St. Matthew Passion can be accessed through the following url: http:
//archive.org/details/PassionOfOurLordAccordingToStMatthew. The details about aria n. 41 are
from the Neil Jenkins’ programme note The first translation of the St. Matthew Passion: Helen
Johnston’s lasting legacy, available at http://www.neiljenkins.info/documents/stmatthewpassion.
pdf.

Cover: The Inspiration of Saint Matthew, Caravaggio (1602); Portrait of Johann Sebastian Bach,
E. G. Haussmann (1746); Christ on the Cross, Francisco de Zurbarán (1627).

Compiled by Rafael Bianchin in March 2019. Comments must be addressed to rafaelpbianchin@gmail.com.

 PART ONE
1 - Chorus and chorale
Come, ye daughters, share my mourning;
See Him! Whom? The Bridegroom Christ.
See Him! How? A spotless Lamb.
See it! What? His patient love.
Look! Look where? On our offence.
Look on Him. For love of us
He Himself His Cross is bearing.

Chorale O Lamb of God most holy,

Who on the Cross didst languish;
O Saviour, meek and lowly,
Who suffered bitter anguish;
The sins of man Thou bearest,
Our every grief Thou sharest.
Have mercy on us, O Jesus.

2 - Recitative
Evangelist When Jesus had completed all these sayings, He said unto His disciples,

Jesus Ye know that after two days is the Passover, and the Son of Man shall be
delivered over, that He may be crucified.

3 - Chorale
O blessed Jesu, how hast Thou offended,
That now on Thee such judgement has descended?
Of what misdeed hast Thou to make confession?
Of what transgression?

4 - Recitative
Evangelist At that time that assembled the chief priests and the scribes together with
the elders of the people unto the palace of that high priest whose name was
Caiaphas, and they sought counsel to take Jesus by subtilty, and kill Him.
But they made answer,

5 - Chorus
Not upon the feast, lest haply there be an uproar among the people.

1
6 - Recitative
Evangelist Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, there came
unto Him a woman, having a box of very precious ointment, and poured it
on His head, as He sat at meat. But when His disciples saw it, they had
indignation, and said,

7 - Chorus
To what purpose is this waste? For this ointment might have been sold for
much, and given to the poor.

8 - Recitative
Evangelist When Jesus understood it, He said unto them,
Jesus Why for trouble ye the woman? For she hath wrought a good work on Me. At
all times ye have the poor in your midst but Me ye have not always with you.
For in that she hath poured this ointment on My Body, it hath been done to
prepare me for my burial. Verily I say to you, wherever this Gospel shall
be preached throughout all the world, there too shall be told as this woman’s
memorial what she hath done.

9 - Recitative
My Master and my Lord,
In vain do Thy disciples chide Thee
Because this pitying woman,
With ointment sweet, Thy flesh
For burial maketh ready.
O grant to me, beloved Lord,
The tears wherewith my heart o’erfloweth
An unction on Thy head may pour.

10 - Aria
Grief for sin,
Rends the guilty heart within.
May my weeping and my mourning
Be a welcome sacrifice.
Loving Saviour, hear in mercy!

11 - Recitative
Evangelist Then went one of the disciples whose name was Judas Iscariot, to the chief
priests and said,
Judas How much will ye give me if I betray Him to you?

2
Evangelist And they paid him for thirty silver pieces. And from that time he sought
opportunity that he might betray Him.

12 - Aria
Break in grief, Thou loving heart;
For a son whom Thou hast nourished,
Yea, a friend whom Thou hast cherished,
Gathers cruel foes around Thee,
And will like a serpent wound Thee.

13 - Recitative
Evangelist Now on the first day of the unleavened bread, came the disciples to Jesus,
and said unto Him,

14 - Chorus
Where wilt Thou that we prepare for Thee to eat the Passover?

15 - Recitative and chorus

Evangelist He said,

Jesus Go to one in the city yonder and say to him, The Master bids me tell ye:
My time is at hand, I will keep the Passover with thee and My disciples.

Evangelist The disciples went and did as Jesus had appointed, and made ready for the
Passover. Now when evening came, He sat down at meat with the twelve.
And as they did eat, He said,

Jesus Verily I say to you, one of you here shall soon betray Me.

Evangelist And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto
Him,

Chorus Lord, is it I?

16 - Chorale
Tis I, whose sins have bound Thee,
With anguish deep surrounds Thee,
And nails Thee to the Tree;
The torture Thou art feeling,
Thy patient love revealing,
Tis I should bear it, I alone.

3
17 - Recitative
Evangelist He answered them and said,

Jesus He who shall deep his hand in the dish with Me, shall be my betrayer. The
Son of Man goeth forth from hence as of it hath been written: but woe unto
that man by whom the Son of Man shall be betrayed: It had been better for
that very say man, that he had not been born.

Evangelist Then answered Judas, which did betray Him, and said,

Judas Is it I, Master?

Evangelist He said to him,

Jesus Thou sayest.

Evangelist And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed it, and break it, and gave
to them, saying,

Jesus Take, eat, this is My Body.

Evangelist And He took the cup, and giving thanks, He gave it to them, saying,

Jesus Drink ye all of it; is this My Blood of the New Testament, which shall be
shed for you and many for the remission of sins. I say to you, that I shall
not drink again the sort of this fruit of the vine, until that day when a new
I shall drink with you within my Father’s Kingdom.

18 - Recitative
Although our eyes with tears o’erflow,
Since Jesus now must from us go,
His gracious promise doth the soul uplift.
His Flesh and Blood, O precious gift!
Lie leaves us for our souls’ refreshment.
As He while in the world did love His own,
So now, with love unchanging,
He loves them still unto the end.

19 - Aria
Jesus, Saviour, I am Thine,
Come and dwell my heart within.
All things else I count but loss,
Glory only in Thy Cross.
Dearer than the world beside
Is the Saviour who hath died.

4
20 - Recitative
Evangelist And after they had sung an hymn together, they went out into the mount
of Olives. Then said Jesus to them,

Jesus All ye shall be offended because of Me this night, for it is written, I will
smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the pasture shall be scattered abroad.
But when I am risen again, then I shall go before you to Galilee.

21 - Chorale
Receive me, my Redeemer,
My Shepherd, make me Thine;
Of every good the fountain,
Thou art the spring of mine.
How oft Thy words have fed me
On earth with angels’ food,
How oft Thy grace hath led me
To highest, Heavenly good.

22 - Recitative
Evangelist Simon Peter made answer, and said to Him,

Peter Though all are offended because of Thee, in so shall I be never offended.

Evangelist Jesus said to him,

Jesus Verily I say unto thee, that this same night before the cock croweth, shalt
thou deny Me thrice.

Evangelist Peter said to Him,

Peter Yea, even though I should die with Thee, yet will I never deny Thee.

Evangelist And likewise also said all the disciples.

23 - Chorale
Here would I stand beside Thee;
Lord, bid me not depart
From Thee I will not sever,
Though breaks Thy loving heart.
When bitter pain shall hold Thee
In agony opprest,
Then, then will I enfold Thee
Within my loving breast.

5
24 - Recitative
Evangelist Then came Jesus with them unto a place which was called Gethsemane, and
said to His disciples,

Jesus Sit ye here, while I go yonder and pray.

Evangelist And He took with Him Peter, and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to
be sorrowful, and very heavy. Then said Jesus to them,

Jesus My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye and watch with
Me.

25 - Recitative and chorale

O grief! how throbs His heavy-laden breast!
His spirit faints, how pale His weary face!
He to the Judgment-hall is brought,
There is no help, no comfort near.
The powers of darkness now assail Him,
His chosen friends will soon forsake Him,
Ah! if my love Thy stay could be,
If I could gauge Thy grief, and share it,
Could make it less, or help to bear it,
How gladly would I watch with Thee.

Chorale My Saviour, why must all this ill befall Thee?

My sin, alas! from highest Heaven did call Thee.
God took the debt from me, who should have paid it;
On Thee He kid it.

26 - Aria and chorus

I would beside my Lord be watching.
By His Cross
I am saved from sin and loss;
His sorrows win my soul its ransom.

Chorus And so our sin will fall asleep.

The griefs that He for us endureth,
How bitter, yet how sweet, are they.

27 - Recitative
Evangelist And He went away, and, falling upon His face, He prayed and said,

Jesus My Father, if possible, so let this cup pass hence through Me: it not as I
will, rather as Thou wilt.

6
28 - Recitative
The Saviour, low before His Father bending,
To gain for man by His oblation
A full salvation,
The love of God toward man commendeth.
He now will drink the Cup
Unto its last and bitterest dregs,
Which with the sin of men is filled
And overflows. He will not shrink,
But suffer all that God hath willed.

29 - Aria
Gladly would I take upon me
Cross and Cup, and all His burden,
Could I follow Christ my Lord.
Lo, our Lord,
In love our burden sharing,
Bears for us
The Cross with all its shame,
He has lightened all our sorrow.

30 - Recitative
Evangelist And He came to the disciples, and found them sleeping, and said to them,

Jesus Could ye then not watch with Me one single hour? Watch and pray, that ye
enter not into temptation: the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Evangelist A second time He went away, prayed and said,

Jesus My Father, if it is not possible that this cup pass away from Me, except I
drink it, then Thy will be done.

31 - Chorale
O Father, let Thy will be done,
For all things well Thou doest,
In time of need refusest none,
But helpest e’en the lowest.
In deep distress
Thou still dost bless,
In wrath rememberest mercy;
Who trusts in Thee
Shall ever be
In perfect peace and safety.

7
32 - Recitative
Evangelist And He came again and found them sleeping: because their eyes were heavy
with sleep. And He left them, and He went away again, praying a third
time, and saying again the same words. Then cometh He to His disciples,
and saith to them,

Jesus O, ye are sleeping and resting, see, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man
shall be given over into the hands of sinners. Arise, let us be going: see now,
he is come that doth betray Me.

Evangelist And while He was speaking, behold, that came Judas one of the twelve, and
with him a great band of men with swords and with staves from the chief
priests and the elders of the people. Now he that betrayed Him, had given
a sign to them that were with him, and had said,

Judas Whomsoever I shall kiss, that is He, hold Him fast.

Evangelist Forthwith he came unto Jesus, and said,

Judas All Hail to thee, my Master,

Evangelist and kissed Him. Jesus said unto him,

Jesus My friend, wherefore art thou come?

Evangelist And came they all around, and laid their hands upon Jesus and forthwith
took Him.

33 - Duet and chorus

Behold, my Saviour now is taken,
Moon and stars
Have for grief the night forsaken,
Since my Saviour now is taken.
They lead Him hence; with cords they bind Him!

Chorus Loose Him! leave Him! bind Him not!

Have lightnings and thunders their fury forgotten?
Then open, O bottomless pit, all thy terrors!
Destroy them, overwhelm them, devour them, consume them
With tumult of rage,
The treach’rous betrayer, the merciless throng.

8
34 - Recitative
Evangelist And behold, one of the others, which were there with Jesus, stretched his
hand out, and struck the high priest’s serving man, and smote off his ear.
Then said Jesus to him,

Jesus Put up thy sword into its place: who takes the sword, by the sword shall
perish. For thinkest thou that I cannot now pray unto my Father, and that
He shall give Me more than twelve legions of angels? How shall the Scriptures
then be fulfilled, that thus it must be?

Evangelist In that hour speak Jesus to the multitudes,

Jesus Are ye all come out as against a robber with swords and with staves wherewith
to take Me? Have I not daily appear among you and openly taught in the
temple, and ye have no hold upon Me. But I tell you, all this was done, that
might be fulfilled the Scriptures of the Prophets.

Evangelist Then forsook Him all the disciples, and fled.

35 - Chorale
O man thy grievous sin bemoan,
For which Christ left His Father’s throne,
From highest heaven descending.
Of Virgin pure and undefiled,
He here was born, our Saviour mild,
For sin to make atonement.
The dead He raised to life again,
The sick He freed from grief and pain,
Until the time appointed,
That He for us should give His Blood,
Should bear our sins’ o’erwhelming load,
The shameful Cross enduring.

9
 PART TWO
36 - Aria and chorus
Ah! now is my Saviour gone!
Whither went He? I would follow.
Ah! my Lamb, the slayers hold Thee.
Where now is my Saviour gone?
Ah! how shall I find an answer
To assure my anxious soul?
Ah, where is my Saviour gone?

Chorus Whither is thy beloved gone,

O thou fairest among women?
Whither is thy friend gone aside?
For we would go with thee to seek Him.

37 - Recitative
Evangelist And they that had laid hold on Jesus, led Him away unto the high priest
Caiaphas, where all the scribes were assembled together with the elders of
the people. Simon Peter followed him from afar, unto the palace of the high
priest, and went inside, and sat down among the servants that he might
witness what the end should be. The chief priests and elders of the people,
and the council, all sought to find false witness against Jesus, that He might
be put to death, yet found they nothing.

38 - Chorale
How falsely doth the world accuse
How ready justice to refuse!
How eager to condemn me!
In danger’s hour,
Lord, show Thy power,
From every ill defend me.

39 - Recitative
Evangelist Yea, though many lying witnesses came forward, yet did they find none. At
the last came to them two that were false witnesses, saying,

Witnesses This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in
three days.

Evangelist The high priest therefore arose, and said to Him,

High priest Doest Thou make no answer to them That bear these witness against Thee?

10
Evangelist But Jesus held His peace.

40 - Recitative
He holds His peace
To men who accused Him falsely,
That thereby He may show us
How deep compassion works within Him
To bear sorrows in His heart;
So we, when called to suffer wrong,
Should try to be like Him,
And in affliction hold our peace.

41 - Aria
Endure! Endure!
Yea, though lying tongues upbraid thee.
Suffer thou, in faith secure,
Scourge and rod.
Yea, a great and living God,
Justly shall to vengeance aid thee.

42 - Recitative and chorus

Evangelist And the high priest answered, and said unto Him,
High priest I adjure Thee by the ever living God, that Thou shoult tell, as if Thou be
the Christ, the Son of God.
Evangelist Jesus said to him,
Jesus Thou sayest: but I say to you, that it shall come to pass that ye shall see
after the Son of Man from on the right hand of power, and coming in the
clouds of Heaven.
Evangelist Thereupon the high priest rent his garments, and said,
High priest He hath spoken blasphemy: what need then of further witnesses? See, now
for ye have heard this ferous blasphemy yourselves. What do ye think?
Evangelist They answered him and said,
Chorus He guilty is of death.

43 - Recitative and chorus

Evangelist And then with one accord they did spit in His face, and beated Him with
their fists, so one of the others buffeted Him upon the fists, saying
Chorus Tell us, Thou Christ, who is he that smote Thee?

11
44 - Chorale
O Lord, who dares to smite Thee,
And falsely to indict Thee,
Deride and mock Thee so?
Thou dost not need confession,
Who knowest not transgression
As we and all our children know.

45 - Recitative and chorus

Evangelist Simon Peter sat outside in the court and then came unto him a maid, and
said,
First maid Thou also was truly with Jesus of Galilee.
Evangelist But he denied it before them all, and said,
Peter I know not what thou sayest.
Evangelist And when he was gone out to the porch, he was seen by another maid, who
said unto them that stood by him,
Second maid This man was also with Jesus of Nazareth.
Evangelist And again he denied it, and with an oath,
Peter I do not know the man.
Evangelist And after a little while then came unto him they that stood by, and said
unto Peter,
Chorus Surely thou also art one of them, for thy speech betrayeth thee.

46 - Recitative
Evangelist And then began he to curse and to swear,
Peter I do not know the man.
Evangelist And immediately the cock crew. Then Peter remembered the words of Jesus,
which said unto him, Before the cock croweth, thou shalt deny Me thrice.
And he went out, and wept bitterly.

47 - Aria
Have mercy, Lord, on me,
Regard my bitter weeping.
Look on me,
Heart and eyes both weep to Thee
Bitterly.

12
48 - Chorale
Lamb of God, I fall before Thee,
Humbly trusting in Thy Cross;
That alone be all my glory,
All things else I count but loss.
Jesu, all my hope and joy
Flow from Thee, Thou sov’reign good,
Hope, and love, and faith, and patience,
All were purchased by Thy Blood.

49 - Recitative and chorus

Evangelist Now, when the morning came, all the chief priests and the escribes and the
elders of the people, took counsel against Jesus, that they might kill Him.
And, binding Him, they led Him away, and delivered Him unto the palace
of Pontius Pilate. Then Judas Iscariot, he which had betrayed Him, when
he saw that He was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the
thirty silver pieces unto the priests and the elders, and said,

Judas I have done evil, because I have betrayed the innocent blood.

Evangelist They answered,

Chorus What is that to us? See thou to that.

50 - Recitative
Evangelist And he cast the silver pieces down in the temple, and he had forth departed,
and he hanged himself. And the chief priests took the thirty silver pieces,
and said,

Chief priests It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of
blood.

51 - Aria
Give, O give me back my Lord.
See the silver, price of blood,
At your feet in horror poured
By the lost betrayer.

52 - Recitative
Evangelist And they took counsel together, and bought the potter’s field with the silver
pieces for the burial of strangers. Wherefore the name of that field has been
The Field of Blood unto this very day. (Then was fulfilled that which was
spoken by the Prophet Jeremiah, when he said, And they took the thirty

13
 silver pieces, which was the price of Him that was valued, whom they of
the children of Israel did value: and they did give the pieces for the potter’s
field, as the Lord appointed me). Jesus therefore stood before the governor,
and the governor asked him, and said,

Pilate Art Thou the King of the Jews?

Evangelist Jesus said unto him,

Jesus Thou sayest.

Evangelist And when He was questioned by the chief priests and by the elders, He
answered them nothing. Then Pilate said unto Him,

Pilate Hearest Thou not these men’s accusations?

Evangelist And He answered him to never a word: insomuch that the governor mar-
velled very greatly.

53 - Chorale
Commit thy way to Jesus,
Thy burdens and thy cares;
He from them all releases,
He all thy sorrow shares.
He gives the winds their courses.
And bounds the ocean’s shore,
He suffers not temptation
To rise beyond thy power.

54 - Recitative and chorus

Evangelist At that feast then the governor has a custom to release unto the people one
of the prisoners, which whom they would. Now at that time the governor
had a prisoner more notable then the others, who was named as Barabbas.
And when they were all assembled, Pilate said unto them,

Pilate Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus, of whom it has
been said He is Christ?

Evangelist For Pilate knew that it was for envy that they had delivered Him. And
when he was at the judgement seat, came on his wife, and said unto him,

Pilate’s wife Have thou nothing to do with this just person: for I have suffered many
things in a dream, because of Him.

Evangelist But the escribes and the chief priests and the elders all persuaded the people
to ask that Barabbas be released, and that Jesus should perish. So the
governor made answer unto the people, saying,

14
Pilate Tell me whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you?

Evangelist They answered,

Chorus Barabbas.

Evangelist And Pilate said to them,

Pilate What then shall I do unto Jesus, unto whom it is said He is Christ?

Evangelist They all made answer,

Chorus Let Him be crucified.

55 - Chorale
O wondrous love, that suffers this correction!
The Shepherd dying for the flock’s protection;
The Master pays the debts His servants owe Him,
And they betray Him!

56 - Recitative
Evangelist The governor answered,

Pilate What, tell me, what wrong hath He done?

57 - Recitative
To all men Jesus good hath done:
The blind man hath He given sight,
The lame man made to walk.
He told us of His Father’s Word,
He cast the devils forth,
The mourners hath He comforted
In Him a friend the sinner found.
Save good, my Jesus nought hath done.

58 - Aria
For love my Saviour now is dying,
Of sin and guilt He knoweth nought.
So eternal desolation
And the sinner’s righteous doom
Shall not rest upon my spirit.

15
59 - Recitative and chorus
Evangelist But they cried out the more, and said,

Chorus Let Him be crucified.

Evangelist When Pilate saw that he prevailed nothing, but that rather a great tumult
arose, he took water, and washed his hands before them all, and said,

Pilate I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see then ye to it.

Evangelist And then answered with one accord, and said,

Chorus His blood be on us and on our children.

Evangelist Then released Barabbas free, and when Jesus had been scourged, he deliv-
ered Him up unto then, that He might be crucified.

60 - Recitative
O gracious God!
Behold, the Saviour standeth bound.
Now scourge they Him, and smite and wound Him
Tormentors, stay your hands!
Are not your hearts with pity moved
To see such anguish meekly borne?
Ah, no! your hearts are hard,
And must be like the rock itself,
Nay, more unyielding still.
Have pity! stay your hands!

61 - Aria
If my tears be unavailing,
Take the very heart of me.
Then, if vain be all my pleading,
When the sacred wounds are bleeding,
Let my heart a chalice be.

62 - Recitative
Evangelist And then did the soldiers of the governor take Jesus into the common hall,
and gathered unto Him the whole band of men. And stripped off His clothes,
and put upon His back a scarlet robe. And platted a crown of thorns, and
put it upon His Head, and a reed in His right hand: and bowed they the
knee before Him, and mocking at Him, they said,

Chorus Hail, King of the Jews.

16
Evangelist And spitting to His face, and taking the reed, they smote Him upon the
head.

63 - Chorale
O sacred Head, surrounded
By crown of piercing thorn!
O bleeding Head, so wounded,
Reviled, and put to scorn!
Death’s pallid hue comes o’er Thee,
The glow of life decays,
Yet angel-hosts adore Thee,
And tremble as they gaze.
In this Thy bitter Passion,
Good Shepherd, think of me
With Thy most sweet compassion,
Unworthy though I be:
Beneath Thy Cross abiding,
For ever would I rest,
In Thy dear love confiding,
And with Thy presence blest.

64 - Recitative
Evangelist And after they had mocked at Him, taking the scarlet mantle off, and putting
Him again His own raiment on, they led Him away that they might crucify
Him. And as they were going off, they found by the way a man from Cyrene,
whose name was Simon: they compelled him that he should bear His Cross.

65 - Recitative
In truth, to bear the Cross, our flesh and blood
Are loth to be constrained;
For that which works our chiefest good
Most hardly is attained.

66 - Aria
Come, healing Cross - O, joy to share it!
My Saviour, lay on me its weight;
And if the burden grow too great,
Then help Thou me, O Lord, to bear it.

67 - Recitative and chorus

Evangelist And when they came unto the place that is called Golgotha, that is, the
place of a skull, they gave Him vinegar to drink, that was mingled with gall:

17
 and when He tasted it, He would not drink it. And after they had crucified
Jesus, they divided His garments, and casted lots for them: that it might
be fulfilled which was spoken by the Prophet, They parted my garments
among themselves, and upon my vesture did they cast lots. And they sit
themselves, and watched Him there: And over His head was written the title
of His accusation, namely, This is Jesus the King of the Jews. And there
were with Him two robbers crucified: one on the right hand, and one on the
left. And they that were passing by, reviled Him, and wagging their heads
they mocked Him, and said,

Chorus Thou that destroyest the temple of God, and buildest it in three days, save
Thyself: If Thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.

Evangelist And likewise also came the chief priests to mock at Him, with the scribes
and with the elders of the people,

Chorus He saved others, Himself He cannot save: If He be King of Israel, let Him
now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him. He trusted in God,
let Him deliver Him now if He will have Him: for He hath said, I am the
Son of God.

68 - Recitative
Evangelist The same was cast in His teeth by the robbers, which were crucified with
Him.

69 - Recitative
Ah, Golgotha! Unhappy Golgotha!
The Lord of Glory here ’mid shame and scorn must perish;
The blessed Saviour of the world
Upon th’ accursed Tree now hangs;
The Lord who heaven and earth created,
Of life and light is now bereft;
The Sinless here as sinner dieth.
Ah, how this grief doth pierce my soul!
Ah, Golgotha! Unhappy Golgotha!

70 - Aria
See ye!
See the Saviour’s outstretched Hands!
He would draw us to Himself.
Come!
Come where?
In Jesu’s bosom
Seek Redemption, seek ye mercy.

18
 Seek them
Where?
In Jesu’s bosom.
Live ye, die ye, rest ye here,
Ye whom sin and guilt oppress.
Rest ye!
Where?
In Jesu’s bosom.

71 - Recitative and chorus

Evangelist Now from the sixth hour there came to pass the darkness all over land unto
the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour, Jesus cried aloud, and said,

Jesus Eli, Eli, lama, sabachthani,

Evangelist That is, My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken Me? Some of them that
was standing near, when they heard that they said,

Chorus He calleth for Elias.

Evangelist And straightway one of them ran, and took a sponge, and filled it with some
vinegar, and put it upon a reed, and gave Him to drink. But others of them
answered,

Chorus Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save Him.

Evangelist And Jesus, having cryed again aloud, yielded up the ghost.

72 - Chorale
Be near me, Lord, when dying,
O part not Thou from me!
And to my succour flying,
Come, Lord, and set me free!
And when my heart must languish
In death’s last awful throe,
Release me from mine anguish,
By Thine own pain and woe.

73 - Recitative and chorus

Evangelist And then, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain, from the top
unto the bottom, and the earth did tremble, and the rocks were rent. And
the graves were opened up, and there arose many bodies of the holy ones
that were sleeping, and came out of the graves after Jesus’ resurrection, and
went into the holy city, and was seem by many. But the centurion, and

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 they that were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, when they looked on the
earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying,

Chorus Truly this was the Son of God.

Evangelist And many women were there (who were watching from far) which followed
after Jesus from Galilee, and ministering unto Him. Among whom there was
Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother
of Zebedee’s children. When the evening fell, there came a rich man from
Arimathea, whose name was Joseph, who was also one of Jesus’ disciples:
He went unto Pilate, and begged from him the body of Jesus: Then Pilate
commanded the body to be delivered.

74 - Recitative
At evening, hour of calm and peace
Was Adam’s fall made manifest;
At evening, too, the Lord’s redeeming love;
At evening homeward turned the dove
And bore the olive-leaf as token.
O beauteous time! O evening hour!
Our lasting peace is now with God made sure,
For Jesus hath His Cross endured.
His body sinks to rest.
Go, loving servant, ask thou it
Go, be it thine, the lifeless Saviour’s Body.
O wondrous Gift! O precious, holy burden!

75 - Aria
Make thee clean, my heart, from sin,
Unto Jesus give thee welcome.
So within my cleansed breast
Shall He rest,
Dwelling evermore within me.
World, depart; let Jesus in!

76 - Recitative and chorus

Evangelist And Joseph took the body, and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it
in his own new tomb, which he had ordered to be hewn out in the rock: and
rolled a great stone up to the door of the sepulchre, and went his way. There
was also there Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the
tomb. Now on the next day that followed the preparation, came the chief
priests and Pharisees together unto Pilate, and said,

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Chorus Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while He was yet alive, After three
days I will rise again. Therefore command the grave to be made sure, until
the third day, lest His disciples come by night and steal Him away, and say
unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse
than the first.

Evangelist Pilate said to them,

Pilate Ye have your watch, go your way, and secure it as you will.

Evangelist And so they went, and they guarded the tomb with watches, and they sealed
up the stone.

77 - Recitative and chorus

And now the Lord to rest is laid,
His task is o’er; for all our sins He hath atoned.
O weary, broken Body!
See, with repentant tears we would bedew it,
Which our offence to such a death has brought.
While life shall last, O let Thy sufferings claim our love,
Since Thou for man salvation sure hast wrought.

Chorus Lord Jesu, fare Thee well.

78 - Chorus
In tears of grief, dear Lord, we leave Thee.
Hearts cry to Thee, O Saviour dear.
Lie Thou softly, softly here.
Rest Thy worn and bruised Body.
At Thy grave, O Jesu blest,
May the sinner, worn with weeping,
Comfort find in Thy dear keeping,
And the weary soul find rest.
Sleep in peace,
Sleep Thou in the Father’s breast.

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