When I survey the wondrous Cross - Hymn Lyrics

1 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.

2 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 through his blood.

3 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?

4 Were the whole realm of nature mine,
that were a present far too small.
Love so amazing, so divine,
demands my soul, my life, my all.

"When I Survey the Wondrous Cross" is one of the most revered and poetic hymns in the English language. Deeply reflective, it draws the worshiper into the solemn mystery of Christ’s crucifixion, calling for personal surrender in light of the Savior’s sacrificial love.

🖋 Hymn Background

• Lyrics: Isaac Watts (1674–1748)

• Tune: Most commonly set to “Hamburg” by Lowell Mason (1832)

• First Published: 1707, in Hymns and Spiritual Songs

Isaac Watts, often called the “Father of English Hymnody,” wrote "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross" as a communion hymn. At the time, congregational worship in England mostly used psalms, paraphrased Scripture, or rigid theological verses. Watts broke that mold, bringing emotion, personal reflection, and poetic beauty into Christian worship.

This hymn was groundbreaking—it invited believers not just to believe in the cross but to behold it with awe and respond with complete devotion.

This hymn is not about emotionalism—it’s about eternal perspective. Watts invites the soul to fix its gaze on Calvary, not merely to mourn, but to marvel. The cross, once an instrument of shame and execution, is here called “wondrous,” because it reveals the depth of God's mercy and the cost of our redemption.

The more one contemplates Christ crucified, the less attractive the world becomes. Boasting, pride, wealth, and ambition—all fade in comparison to the love displayed at the cross. The only proper response, Watts says, is to lay down everything in return.