La música cristiana es de origen judío: la liturgia musical de la sinagoga, en particular el canto psalmódico de los judíos como unidad poética musical, fue un legado preciado transmitido del Israel antiguo al cristianismo primitivo, como forma de manifestar tanto a nivel personal como comunitario las creencias religiosas y la fe en Dios.
O sacred Head, now wounded,
With grief and shame weighed down,
Now scornfully surounded
With thorns, thine only crown:
How art thou pale with anguish,
With sore abuse and scorn!
How does that visage languish
Which once was bright as morn!
What thou, my Lord, has suffered
Was all for sinners' gain;
Mine was the transgression,
But thine the deadly pain.
Lo, here I fall, my Savior!
'Tis I deserve the place;
Look on me with thy favor,
Vouchsafe to me thy grace.
CHORUS
Sacred Head now wounded
Sacred Head with shame weighed down
What language shall I borrow
To thank thee, dearest friend,
For this thy dying sorrow,
Thy pity without end?
O make me thine forever;
And should I fainting be,
Lord, let me never, never
Outlive my love to thee.