Out Of The Depths I Cry To Thee
Out of the Depths I Cry to Thee
Out of the depths I cry to Thee:
Lord, hear me, I implore Thee;
Bend down Thy gracious ear to me,
Let my prayer come before Thee!
On my misdeeds in mercy look,
O deign to blot them from Thy book,
And let me come before Thee.
Thy sov’reign grace and boundless love
Show Thee, O Lord, forgiving;
My purest thoughts and deeds but prove
Sin in my heart is living:
None guiltless in Thy sight appear,
All who approach Thy throne must fear,
And humbly trust Thy mercy.
Thou canst be merciful while just,
This is my hope’s foundation;
In Thy redeeming grace I trust,
O grant me Thy salvation.
Upheld by Thee I stand secure:
Thy word is firm, Thy promise sure,
And I rely upon Thee.
Like those who watch for midnight’s hour
To hail the dawning morrow,
I wait for Thee, I trust Thy pow’r,
Unmoved by doubt or sorrow.
So let Thy people hope in Thee,
And they shall find Thy mercy free,
And Thy redemption plenteous.
Translated by Benjamin Latrobe (1725–1786)
ALTHOUGH MARTIN LUTHER was born into a poor mining community, his intelligence and his father’s hard work earned him a university education. He began a law career at Erfurt University but suddenly left his studies to enter a nearby Augustinian monastery. Luther soon became painfully aware of his guilt before God but could find no relief from his despair. In time, he went to teach at the university in Wittenberg, where he discovered in Scripture that God had a perfect solution for his guilt—gracious forgiveness through Jesus Christ. This discovery freed Luther from the depths of his despair and became the driving force in the ensuing Reformation.
Luther’s musical gifts have often been overlooked. He wrote over thirty hymns and composed music for many of them. He once said, “I wish to compose sacred hymns so that the Word of God may dwell among the people also by means of songs.”
Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night.
Psalm 51:1-3
From the book
