Jesu, mercy, how may this be?

Jesu, mercy, how may this be,

That God himself for his sole mankind

Would take on Him humanity?

My wit nor reason may it well find:

Jesu, mercy, how may this be?

Christ that was of infinite might,

Egall to the Father in deity,

Immortal, impassible, the worldes light,

And would so take mortality!

Jesu, mercy, how may this be?

He that wrought this world of nought,

That made both paines and joy also,

And suffer would pain as sorrowful thought

With weeping, wailing, sowning for woe.

Jesu, mercy, how may this be?

Ah, Jesu! Why suffered thou such entreating,

As beating, bobbing, yea, spitting on thy face?

Drawn like a thief, and for a pain sweating

Both water and blood, crucified, an heavy case?

Jesu, mercy, how may this be?

Lo, man, for thee, that were unkind,

Gladly suffered I all this.

And why, good Lord?

Express thy mind!

Thee to purchase both joy and bliss.

Jesu, mercy, how may this be?