Adventist Pioneer Library

Worship — Adoration of Christ

The head that once was crowned with thorns

  • No. 121
  • Words Thomas Kelly.
  • 5 stanzas
  • Words only in the original

Words

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1

The head that once was crowned with thorns
Is crowned with glory now;
A royal diadem adorns
The mighty Victor's brow.

2

The highest place that heaven affords,
Is his by sovereign right;
The King of kings, and Lord of lords,
He reigns in glory bright;—

3

The joy of all who dwell above,
The joy of all below,
To whom he manifests his love,
And grants his name to know.

4

To them the cross, with all its shame,
With all its grace, is given;
Their name—an everlasting name,
Their joy—the joy of heaven.

5

To them the cross is life and health,
Though shame and death to him;
His people's hope, his people's wealth,
Their everlasting theme.

About this hymn

As printed Words only. As printed: hymn number «121», reference line «395, 446, 183.» in italics (sing to the tune of hymn 395, 446 or 183); stanzas 1–2 at the foot of the left column of p. 44 below hymn 120, stanzas 3–5 at the top of the right column, «Thomas Kelly.» in italics at the end. The first word «THE» is set in capitals and small capitals. The first verse line is too long for the column and runs over: «thorns» is printed alone on the next line (indented); it is joined here. The print sets a thin space before «;» («now ;», «right ;», «bright ;—», «given ;», «him ;»); it is closed up here. The printer's curly apostrophe is written straight. Lines 2 and 4 of each stanza are indented in the print. Spelling, punctuation and capitals are the print's. No meter is printed (the text is C. M., 8.6.8.6).

Source
The Seventh-day Adventist Hymn and Tune Book (Battle Creek: Review & Herald, 1886/1888)
Where
Worship — Adoration of Christ · No. 121 · printed page 44
Checked
lyrics verified (fork reading; parent check pending) · 2026-09-30