1 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.
2 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 honors to Thy law
which sinners took away.
3 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 Thy name
for I have borne their heavy load
of sorrow, pain, and shame.
4 Grief, like a garment, clothed me round,
and sackcloth was my dress,
while I procured 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.
5 I came in sinful mortals' stead
to do my Father's will;
yet when I cleansed my Father's house,
they scandalized my zeal.
My fasting, and my holy groans
were made the drunkard's song;
but God from His celestial throne
heard my complaining tongue.
6 He saved me from the dreadful deep,
nor let my soul be drowned;
He raised and fixed my sinking feet
on well established 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.
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