Behold the Lamb! O thou for sinners slain


Behold the Lamb!
O thou for sinners slain,
let it not be in vain that thou hast died:
thee for my Savior let me take,
thee, thee alone my refuge make,
thy piercèd side.

Behold the Lamb!
Into the sacred flood
of thy most precious blood my soul I cast:
Wash me and make me pure and clean,
uphold me through life's changeful scene,
till all be past!

Behold the Lamb!
Archangels, fold your wings;
seraphs, hush all the strings of million lyres:
the Victim, veiled on earth in love,
unveiled, enthroned, adored above,
all heaven admires!

Behold the Lamb!
Drop down, ye glorious skies,
he dies, he dies, he dies, for man once lost!
Yet lo! he lives, he lives, he lives,
and to his Church himself he gives,
incarnate Host!

Behold the Lamb!
All hail, eternal Word!
Thou universal Lord, purge out our leaven:
Clothe us with godliness and good,
feed us with thy celestial food,
manna from heaven!

Behold the Lamb!
Worthy is he alone
upon the iris throne of God above!
One with the Ancient of all days,
one with the Paraclete in praise,
all light, all love!


Words: Matthew Bridges (1800-1894), 1848;
These are the original words to Behold the Lamb of God!

Music:

Meter: 4664 884

Hymnal, Year Number Tunes Other comments
Hymns Ancient & Modern, 1861-1874      
The Anglican Hymn Book, 1868       
The Sarum Hymnal, 1869      
The Church Hymnal, 1871 (Hall & Whiteley)      
The Church Hymnal, 1874 (Goodrich & Gilbert)      
The Church Hymnal, 1874 (Tucker & Rousseau)      
The Church Hymnal, 1874 (Hutchins)      
Church Hymns with Tunes, 1874 336 Agnus Dei (Elliott), Behold the Lamb (Elliott)  
Church Hymnal (Church of Ireland), 1874 545 Agnus, Behold the Lamb  
Hymns Ancient & Modern, Standard, 1875-1924      
A Church of England Hymn Book, 1879      
The Universal Hymn Book, 1885      
The Hymnal Companion, 1890      
The Church Hymnal, 1892 (Darlington)      
The Church Hymnal, 1892 (Parker)      
The Church Hymnal, 1892 (Hutchins)      
The Church Hymnal, 1892 (Tucker & Rousseau)      
The Church Hymnal, 1892 (Helfenstein)      
The Church Hymnal, 1892 (Messiter)      
The Yattendon Hymnal, 1900
     
Church Hymns, New Edition, 1903      
Hymns Ancient & Modern, New Edition, 1904      
The English Hymnal, 1906      
The Book of Common Praise, 1908      
The Hymnal 1916      
Church Hymnal for the Christian Year, 1917      
Church Hymnal (Church of Ireland), 1919      
Church Hymnal Revised, 1920 (Hutchins)      
The Oxford Hymn Book, 1925      
Songs of Praise, 1925      
Songs of Praise, Enlarged Edition, 1931      
The Book of Common Praise, 1938      
The Hymnal 1940      
Hymns Ancient & Modern, Revised, 1950      
The Mirfield Mission Hymn Book, 1955      
Church Hymnal (Church of Ireland), 1960      
Anglican Hymn Book, 1965      
The Hymn Book 1971      
The Australian Hymn Book / With One Voice, 1977      
The Hymnal 1982      
Hymns Ancient & Modern, New Standard, 1983      
The New English Hymnal, 1985      
Hymns for Today's Church, second edition, 1988      
Church Family Worship, 1988      
Hymns Old & New, New Anglican Edition, 1996      
Common Praise (Anglican Church of Canada), 1998      
Together in Song: The Australian Hymn Book II, 1999      
Sing Glory, 1999      
Complete Mission Praise, 2000      
Common Praise: Hymns Ancient & Modern, 2000      
Hymns Old & New, Complete Anglican Edition, 2000      
Church Hymnal (Church of Ireland), 2000      

Website compiled by Steve Benner, 1999-2004.