Song Lyrics When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

When I survey how wondrous is the cross,
That stood upon St. Peter’s ground—
A tree, a nail, a sacrifice so dear,
That turned my sins to grace, a mercy born.

Through wounds so deep, a love so pure,
Not just a death, but life upon the earth;
By suffering born, the broken rise,
And death gives way to endless worth.

The world was lost in sin and strife,
But Christ in love redeems what’s fallen apart.
This cross, once symbol of shame, now stands
As hope that lifts every fallen heart.

Each nail, each drop of sacred blood,
A promise: sorrow ends in joy unfurled.
When I reflect on this divine design,
I find my soul embraced, my spirit unchained.

No cross was mere, no death without purpose—
It holds the universe, reborn in grace.
This hymn invites us to see beyond the pain,
To stand in awe of love, both fierce and plain.

So when I survey the wondrous cross,
I see the depth of grace, the strength of faith’s course—
A truth that heals, that transforms, that sustains,
A cross that changed the world, and calls us to be changed.

Let this reflection guide your heart:
Remember Christ’s love, let it reshape your days.
The cross is not just history—it’s living truth,
A gift that calls you to live anew, restored.

—a modern glimpse into a 17th-century hymn reborn in every soul.