Jesu, für gesamte Not:
Für die Wunden, für die Schmerzen,
Für den herben, bittern Tod,
Für dein Zittern, für dein Zagen,
Für dein tausendfaches Plagen,
Für dein’ Angst und tiefe Pein
Will ich ewig dankbar sein.
The most popular of Homburg’s hymns. It was first published in his Geistliche Lieder, Jena, 1659, for Passiontide, entitled, “Hymn of Thanksgiving for his Redeemer and Saviour for His bitter sufferings.”
Ernst Christoph Homburg, born near Eisenach, was a lawyer by profession, and a poet of high rank. His life was not without its cup of bitterness. Domestic troubles, arising from the illness of himself and of his wife, and other difficulties, bore heavily upon him and he was led, as a result, to turn to God and place all his confidence in Him. In the preface to one of his hymn collections, he wrote: “I was especially induced and compelled to their composition by the anxious and sore domestic afflictions by which God ... has for some time laid me aside.” He is the author of 148 hymns.
For comments on Miss Winkworth see [Hymn 236]. Her translation of stanzas 1, 2, and 8 comprises our hymn.