When I survey the wondrous cross - Isaac Watts
& Lowell Mason (alt. tunes: Isaac B. Woodbury, Edward Miller)

Translated into ASL by David Bar-Tzur

Created 2 February 2007, links updated monthly with the help of LinkAlarm.

EXPLANATION OF THE GLOSSING SYSTEM
(to understand how I describe the signs in this translation).

HAPPEN ME VISUALIZE HIS-lf CROSS WONDERFUL,
THAT HOW PRINCE GLORIOUS DIE,
OTHER BENEFIT ME HAVE SEEM SMALL.
ME ASHAMED USED-TO FEEL SO-MUCH PRIDE.

PREVENT ME LORD, BOAST WHAT ME HAVE,
EXCEPT HOW CHRIST DIE FOR MY SINS.
EACH WORTHLESS THING ME USED-TO CHERISH,
ME OFFER-UP THANKS FOR HIS-lf BLOOD.

LOOK-AT-lf HIS-lf HEAD, HIS-lf HANDS, HIS-lf FEET.
SORROW AND L-O-V-E FLOW FROM HIS BODY.
BEFORE NONE HAVE SO-MUCH L-O-V-E AND SORROW.
HIS-lf CROWN CAUSE BLEED-FROM-forehead, SAVE ME.

SUPPOSE ME OFFER-UP NATURAL WORLD
THAT GIFT-TO-God STILL TOO-MUCH SMALL.
HIS-lf L-O-V-E AMAZING, GIFT-TO-me ME
REQUIRE MY SOUL, MY LIFE, MY ALL.


Notes: ME -Underlined words are honorific indices ("indexes"), using the FT of the upturned palm to indicate who is being honored.

PRINCE - [P], PO down, FO > NDS, wipes high across chest from NDS to DS and then descends to waist.

GLORIOUS - (2h)[5], POs><, FOs away from signer, DH which is on top wiggles fingers while ascending. For an animated gif of this sign, see Animated dictionary of religious signs - Deaf Missions: Glory.

USED-TO - [5], PO > NDS, FO UP, moves in a circle normal (perpendicular) to the chest but over the DS shoulder.

SO-MUCH - (2h)[5:], POs ><, FOs away, separate while "so much" is mouthed.

PRIDE - PROUD.

BOAST - SHOW-OFF.

SINS - (2h)[X] touch their respective sides of the mouth, descend to neutral space and circle antisymmetrically parallel to the chest. For an animated gif of this sign, see Animated dictionary of religious signs - Deaf Missions: Sin.

CHERISH - (2h)[5:], hold FTs by the sides of the chin and move down while maintaining contact and closing to (2h)[S].

OFFER-UP - (2h)[B], POs up, lift up hands and move them towards God.

LOOK-AT - (2h)[V] point FTs up to Jesus.

SORROW - SAD+.

FLOW - (2h)[4], POs down, FOs ><, NDH is held closer to body, both hands swivel forward 2x.

CROWN - (2h)[L:] (like BIG) place crown on head with small double movement.

CAUSE - (2h)[S] are held at the chest as if holding a rope and move forward while opening to (2h)[5]. For a QuickTime movie of this sign, see ASL browser - cause.

BLEED-FROM-forehead - (2h)[4], POs > signer, FOs ><. Index fingers brush against forehead.

SAVE - S-FREE.

GIFT-TO-God - (2h)[X], POs ><, FOs > God. Hands nod downwards at wrist to show that something is given as a gift.

Lyrics:

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss
And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast
Save in the death of Christ, my God;
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to his blood.

See, from his head, his hands, his feet
Sorrow and love flow mingled down,
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a tribute far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all!

treble clef as a symbol for musicTo hear a musical setting of these lyrics (without words), go to When I survey the wondrous cross.

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