PSALM
CXXX.
Imitated. Jan.y 1805. [1]
From sorrow's depths to thee I cry,
O Thou! who know'st my inmost fear.
The unuttered prayer, the half breathed sigh,
Still let it reach thy pitying ear!
Unworthy as I am, from thee5
My soul with hope will mercy claim,
For Thou hast made us; Thou canst see,
With mercy, crimes, which man would blame.
If thou should'st mark, with eye severe,
Thy children's faults, Ah! who could stand?10
Ah! who with boldness could appear
Or bless his God's creating hand?
Despair might then with impious voice
Mock the vain tears of penitence,
And curse existence, not his choice,15
Sad boon of free Omnipotence!
But Mercy ever dwells with Thee
Still to forgiveness Thou art prone!
That all with fearful hope may see
Their only refuge is thy throne.20
On Thee, with humble confidence,
My suffering soul for peace shall wait,
Thy love will comfort speak, and hence
Thy word my hopes shall animate.
The languid sufferer doomed to weep25
While painful nights their course delay,
Hopeless of sweet refreshing sleep
Not more desires the morning ray,
Than this poor harassed, troubled soul
Hath watched for inly-whispered peace,30
'Till mercy shall its fears control
And bid its anxious sorrows cease.
And still at mercy's sacred seat
Let all thy children; Lord! be found.
For love is there, and at thy feet35
Consoling hopes, and joys abound.
Notes
[1] EDITOR'S NOTE: "Psalm CXXX. Imitated. Jan.y 1805"is printed in Mary with
lines 13-16 omitted, lines that are not expressed in Psalm 130: “1. Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O Lord. 2. Lord, hear my voice: let
thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications. 3. If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? 4. But there is
forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared. 5. I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope. 6. My soul waiteth for the
Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning. 7. Let Israel hope in the Lord: for with the Lord
there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption. 8. And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities”(KJV). BACK
