"From Depths of Woe I Cry to Thee"

                   by Martin Luther, 1483-1546

                               Text From:

                       THE LUTHERAN HYMNAL

        (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1941)







        1. From depths of woe I cry to Thee,

        Lord, hear me, I implore Thee.

        Bend down Thy gracious ear to me,

        My prayer let come before Thee.

        If Thou rememberest each misdeed,

        If each should have its rightful meed,

        Who may abide Thy presence?



        2. Thy love and grace alone avail

        To blot out my transgression;

        The best and holiest deeds must fail

        To break sin's dread oppression.

        Before Thee none can boasting stand,

        But all must fear Thy strict demand

        And live alone by mercy.



        3. Therefore my hope is in the Lord

        And not in mine own merit;

        It rests upon His faithful Word

        To them of contrite spirit

        That He is merciful and just;

        This is my comfort and my trust.

        His help I wait with patience.



        4. And though it tarry till the night

        And till the morning waken,

        My heart shall never doubt His might

        Nor count itself forsaken.

        Do thus, O ye of Israel's seed,

        Ye of the Spirit born indeed;

        Wait for your God's appearing.



        5. Though great our sins and sore our woes,

        His grace much more aboundeth;

        His helping love no limit knows,

        Our utmost need it soundeth.

        Our shepherd good and true is He,

        Who will at last His Israel free

        From all their sin and sorrow.



        


        Notes:

        Hymn 329 from _The Lutheran Hymnal_

        Text: Ps. 130

        Author: Martin Luther

        Translated by: Catherine Winkworth, 1863, alt.

        Titled: "Aus tiefer Not schrei' ich zu dir"

        Tune: "Aus tiefer Not"

        1st Published in: Johann Walther's _Gesangbuechlein_

        Town: Wittenberg, 1524