When I Survey The Wondrous Cross
St. Michael's Singers Lyrics


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When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood.

See from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down!
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;




Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.

Overall Meaning

The hymn "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross" is a reflection on the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and the ultimate sacrifice he made for humanity. The first verse speaks to the wonder and awe one experiences when contemplating the cross on which the "Prince of glory" died. The singer, upon reflecting on this event, realizes that all the worldly gain they once held dear pales in comparison and that they must let go of their prideful ambitions in the face of such a sacrifice.


The second verse goes on to declare that the only thing worth boasting about is the death of Christ, for it is through this sacrifice that we can be saved. The singer then vows to give up all the things that were previously most important to them and surrender them to the blood of Christ.


The final verse continues with the imagery of the crucifixion and juxtaposes it with the vastness of nature. Even if the singer owned the entire world, it would still not be enough to properly express the love and sacrifice of Christ. The ultimate conclusion is that this love is too great to be measured or contained, and the only response is to give one's soul, life, and all to this divine love.


Line by Line Meaning

When I survey the wondrous cross
As I take a deep and contemplative gaze upon the cross where Christ was sacrificed


On which the Prince of glory died,
The cross is where the King of all creation offered Himself as a sacrifice


My richest gain I count but loss,
All my worldly and earthly acquisitions pale in comparison to the sacrifice Christ made on the cross


And pour contempt on all my pride.
I relinquish all self-importance and pretension to honor and reverence the sacrifice and humility of Christ


Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
O God, do not let me celebrate my own achievements or possessions, except in Your Son's death


Save in the death of Christ my God!
May I only boast in and magnify the crucifixion of my Savior, who is also my God


All the vain things that charm me most,
Anything of this world that might entice me, captivate me, or allure me the most


I sacrifice them to His blood.
I willingly surrender those things to be consumed by the blood that Christ shed on the cross


See from His head, His hands, His feet,
I see clearly the wounds and agony that Christ endured for me, from the crown of thorns on His head to the nails in His hands and feet


Sorrow and love flow mingled down!
Both profound pain and unwavering love drip from the sacrificial wounds of Christ


Did e'er such love and sorrow meet,
Has ever sadness and love come together in such a powerful form?


Or thorns compose so rich a crown?
Has any headpiece as literally and metaphorically significant as the crown of thorns adorned any head?


Were the whole realm of nature mine,
Even if I possessed everything in the natural world,


That were a present far too small;
It could never be enough of a gift, if any kind of worthy offering at all.


Love so amazing, so divine,
Because the love of God in Christ's death is so amazing, so perfect


Demands my soul, my life, my all.
Only an all-encompassing response, including one's affections, spirit and life, is fitting for the extent of the love shown on the cross.




Writer(s): Gilbert M. Martin

Contributed by Stella C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@stmichaelandallangelschurc3012

A lovely hymn, beautifully sung and expertly presented, thank you

@jillseering.61

Thank you so much for putting the music out there with the lyrics

@TheVeryBFG

Thank you for keeping the faith alive

@lucie028

C'est vraiment un beau chant bien chanté avec toute une inspiration de sainteté, bonne continuation. Amen!!....

@Onesloft

wow

@kristinauestad7989

Picture of our local chapel!

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