FullReads

Psalm 69:1. 1-14. First Part. C. M.
The sufferings of Christ for our salvation.

“Save me, O God, the swelling floods
“Break in upon my soul:
“I sink, and sorrows o’er my head
“Like mighty waters roll.

“I cry till all my voice be gone,
“In tears I waste the day:
“My God behold my longing eyes,
“And shorten thy delay.

“They hate my soul without a cause,
“And still their number grows
“More than the hairs around my head,
“And mighty are my foes.

“‘Twas then I paid that dreadful debt
“That men could never pay,
“And gave those honours to thy law
“Which sinners took away.”

Thus in the great Messiah’s name,
The royal prophet mourns;
Thus he awakes our hearts to grief,
And gives us joy by turns.

“Now shall the saints rejoice and find
“Salvation in my Name:
“For I have borne their heavy load
Of sorrow, pain, and shame.

“Grief, like a garment, cloth’d me round,
“And sackcloth was my dress,
“While I procur’d for naked souls
“A robe of righteousness.

“Amongst my brethren and the Jews
“I like a stranger stood,
“And bore their vile reproach to bring
“The Gentiles near to God.

“I came in sinful mortals’ stead,
“To do my Father’s will;
“Yet when I cleans’d my father’s house
“They scandaliz’d my zeal.

“My fasting and my holy groans
“Were made the drunkard’s song;
“But God, from his celestial throne,
“Heard my complaining tongue.

“He sav’d me from the dreadful deep,
“Nor let my soul be drown’d;
“He rais’d and fix’d my sinking feet
“On well establish’d ground.

“‘Twas in a most accepted hour
“My prayer arose on high,
“And for my sake my God shall hear
“The dying sinner’s cry.”