4773. Out of the Depths I Cry to Thee

1. Out of the depths I cry to Thee;
Lord, hear me, I implore Thee!
Bend down Thy gracious ear to me;
I lay my sins before Thee.
If Thou rememberest each misdeed,
If each should have its rightful meed,
Who may abide Thy presence?

2. Thou grantest pardon through Thy love;
Thy grace alone availeth;
Our works could ne’er our guilt remove;
Yea, e’en the best life faileth.
For none may boast himself of aught,
But must confess Thy grace hath wrought
Whate’er in him is worthy.

3. And thus my hope is in the Lord,
And not in my own merit;
I rest upon His faithful Word
To them of contrite spirit.
That He is merciful and just,
Here is my comfort and my trust;
His help I wait with patience.

Text Information
First Line: Out of the depths I cry to Thee
Title: Out of the Depths I Cry to Thee
German Title: Aus tiefer Noth schrei ich zu dir
Author: Martin Luther (1523)
Translator (from German): Catherine Winkworth
Meter: 87.87.887
Language: English
Publication Date: 1996
Source: Translation in Chorale Book for England, 1863, number 40
Copyright: Public Domain
Notes: [This] is a version of Psalm cxxx, which Luther called a Pauline Psalm, and greatly loved. He took special pains with his version. It was sung on May 9, 1525, at the funeral of Friedrich the Wise, in the Court Church at Wittenberg. The people of Halle sang it with tears in their eyes as the great Reformer's coffin passed through their city on the way to the grave at Wittenberg. It is woven into the religious life of Germany. In 1530, during the Diet of Augsburg, Luther's heart was often sore troubled, but he would say, 'Come, let us defy the devil and praise God by singing a hymn.' Then he would begin, 'Out of the depths I cry to Thee.' It was sung at his funeral. Telford, p. 307
Tune Information
Name: AUS TIEFER NOT
Composer (melody): Martin Luther (1524)
Arranger: Jo­hann Wal­ter
Meter: 87.87.887
Key: e minor or modal
Source: Ar­ranged in Ge­sang­büch­lein, 1524
Copyright: Public Domain



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