When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
Words: Isaac Watts, 1707 · Tune "Hamburg": arr. Lowell Mason, 1824 · Public domain
Verse 1
GWhen I Csurvey the Gwondrous Gcross,
GOn which the CPrince of Gglory Ddied,
DMy Grichest Cgain I Emcount but Gloss,
GAnd pour Ccontempt on Gall my Gpride.
Verse 2
GForbid it, Lord, that GI should Gboast,
GSave in the Cdeath of GChrist my DGod;
GAll the Cvain things Emthat charm me Gmost,
GI Csacrifice them Gto His Gblood.
Verse 3
GSee, from His head, His Ghands, His Gfeet,
GSorrow and Clove Gflow mingled Ddown;
GDid e'er such Clove and Emsorrow Gmeet,
GOr thorns Ccompose so Grich a Gcrown?
Verse 4
GWere the whole realm of Gnature Gmine,
GThat were a Cpresent Gfar too Dsmall;
GLove so Camazing, Emso Ddivine,
CDemands my soul, my Glife, my Gall.
Chords in the key of G
- G
- C
- D
- Em
About this hymn
- Words
- Isaac Watts, 1707
- Music
- HAMBURG, Lowell Mason, 1824, adapted from Gregorian chant; ROCKINGHAM by Edward Miller is the usual British tune
- Meter
- 8.8.8.8 (Long Meter)
- In
- 2,193 hymnals
- Scripture
- Galatians 6:14, Luke 23, Hebrews 12
The story
Isaac Watts published this in 1707 in Hymns and Spiritual Songs, and Hymnary lists it as a communion hymn. He did not write it for general praise. He wrote it for the Lord's Supper. At the time, hymns were mostly versified scripture, and this one broke that pattern. It is Watts thinking out loud, anchored on Galatians 6:14. He changed the second line for the 1709 edition. One stanza, the graphic one about dying crimson, almost always gets left out, and that goes back to George Whitefield in 1757. In America we sing Lowell Mason's HAMBURG from 1824. In Britain they sing ROCKINGHAM. At 2,193 hymnals it is one of the most printed hymns in English.
Where it fits in a service
Often used at communion, on Good Friday, and through Lent. It also works as a quiet response after the sermon when the message has been about the cross.
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