Out of the Deep I Cry to Thee

1.Out of the deep I cry to Thee;
O Lord God, hear my crying:
Incline Thy gracious ear to me,
With prayer to Thee applying.
For if Thou fix Thy searching eye
On all sin and iniquity,
Who, Lord, can stand before Thee?

2.But love and grace with Thee prevail,
O God, our sins forgiving;
The holiest deeds can naught avail
Of all before Thee living.
Before Thee none can boast him clear;
Therefore must each Thy judgment fear,
And live on Thy compassion.

3.For this, my hope in God shall rest,
Naught building on my merit;
My heart confides, of Him possest,
His goodness stays my spirit.
His precious word assureth me;
My solace, my sure Rock is he,
Whereon my soul abideth.

4.And though I wait the livelong night
And till the morn returneth,
My heart undoubting trusts His might
Nor in impatience mourneth.
Born of His Spirit, Israel
In the right Way thus fareth well,
And on his God reposeth

5.What though our sins are manifold?
Supreme His mercy reigneth;
No limit can His hand withhold,
Where evil most obtaineth.
He the good Shepherd is alone,
Who Israel will redeem and own,
Forgiving all transgression.