1 Once a Woman silent stood
While Jesus sat at Meat;
From her Eyes she pour'd a Flood,
To wash his Sacred Feet:
Shame and Wonder, Joy and Love,
All at once possess'd her Mind,
That she e'er so vile could prove,
Yet now Forgiveness find.

2 "How came this vile Woman here?
"Will Jesus notice such?
"Sure, if he a Prophet were,
"He would disdain her touch!"
Simon thus, with scornful Heart,
Slighted one whom Jesus lov'd;
But her Saviour took her Part,
And thus his Pride reprov'd;

3 "If two Men in Debt were bound,
"One less, the other more;
"Fifty, or five hundred Pound,
"And both alike were Poor;
"Should the Lender both forgive,
"When he saw them both distress'd;
"Which of them would you believe,
"Engag'd to love him best?"

4 "Surely he who much did owe,"
The Pharisee reply'd;
Then our Lord, "By judging so,
"Thou dost for her decide:
"Simon, if like her you knew,
"How much you Forgiveness need;
"You like her had acted too,
"And welcom'd me indeed!

5 "When the Load of Sin is felt,
"And much Forgiveness known:
"Then the Heart of Course will melt,
"Tho' hard before as Stone:
"Blame not then, her love and Tears,
"Greatly she in Debt has been:
"But I have remov'd her Fears,
"And pardon'd all her Sin."

6 When I read this Woman's Case,
Her Love and humble Zeal;
I confess, with Shame of Face,
My Heart is made of Steel;
Much has been forgiv'n to me,
Jesus paid my heavy Score,
What a Creature must I be,
That I can love no more!