"From Deepest Woe I Cry to Thee"

We are reading about Martin Luther (1483-1546) in school these days, and I found a Lenten hymn he penned in 1524. The version I have in a hymnal also credits him with the melody. It is with awe that I meditate upon Luther's steadfastness to the true and pure faith while he endured the adversity from Rome.


"From Deepest Woe I Cry to Thee"
From deepest woe 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 every sin,
if nought but just reward we win,
could we abide thy presence?

Thou grantest pardon through thy love;
thy grace alone availeth.
Our works could ne'er guild remove;
yea, e'en the best life faileth.
For none may boast themselves of aught,
but must confess thy grace that wrought
whate'er in them is worthy.

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.