Good Friday or The Suffering of Our Lord Jesus Christ - Jeremias De Decker

Tantae molis erat sceptrum confringere mortis.

(So difficult it was to constrain the scepter of death.)

Since on this mournful day a tragic strain,

Not comic notes should rise,

O Lord, I now must mourn your bitter pain

And through it for my sins be moved to sighs.

Others, O Christ, may write their songs of praise

To honor prince or king,

But I – I am not touched nor moved to raise

A song to Caesar but your suffering.

I often think about the cruel whips,

Deceitful accusations,

About the crown and cross; what’s better, lips,

Than bursting out with poems of contemplation?

I need not call a Muse of any kind

To make me skillful, strong;

No, no! Your Spirit pours into all minds,

Inspires my spirit, inspirits all my song.

So that, untouched by earthly worries, I may sing –

But not without much crying –

What heavy sorrow pierced your heart, how deep their sting,

And what a death it was that gave us life undying.

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Jeremias De Decker [or Dekker] (1610 – 1666)  Netherlands

Translated by Henrietta Ten Harmsel

Source: Central Reformed Church (Grand Rapids)