SONG OF THE HOURS
All in the very morning hour
Our gentle Lord and Savior
Was fettered and arraigned before
the bailiff of Judea.
But heathen Pilate found no stain
In him or civil terror
Accordingly he sent him on to
Magistrate King Herod
Third hour, and the son of God
Was scourged by whips and bludgeoned.
And then those sinful people placed
A crown of thorns upon him.
Revile him, did those citizens
And beat him, did those soldiers.
The cross on which he was to die
was laid upon his shoulders.
Sixth hour, they stripped him of his robe
And on the cross they nailed him.
The Christ was bleeding freely now.
(And are the faithful wailing?)
His enemies made sport of him,
So did the true believers.
The sun itself retired then
To scorn their cruel behavior.
Ninth hour, Jesus Christ cried out
"My God I am forsaken!"
They gave him bile and vinegar
His mortal thirst to slaken.
Then Jesus Christ gave up the ghost
And all creation trembled;
The temple fell and from the hill
The rock of Ages tumbled.
And in the very vesper hour
The two thieves' bones were broken.
A spear was thrust in Jesus side,
And Jesus' side did open.
And blood and water did run out,
It flowed beyond all measure,
And all the folk from round about
did mock our Lord and Savior.