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.
2 "I cry till all my voice be gone, "In tears I waste the day: "My God behold my longing eyes, "And shorten thy delay.
3 "They hate my soul without a cause, "And still their number grows "More than the hairs around my head, "And mighty are my foes.
4 "'Twas then I paid that dreadful debt "That men could never pay, "And gave those honours to thy law "Which sinners took away."
5 Thus in the great Messiah's name, The royal prophet mourns; Thus he awakes our hearts to grief, And gives us joy by turns.
6 "Now shall the saints rejoice and find "Salvation in my Name: "For I have borne their heavy load Of sorrow, pain, and shame.
7 "Grief, like a garment, cloth'd me round, "And sackcloth was my dress, "While I procur'd for naked souls "A robe of righteousness.
8 "Amongst my brethren and the Jews "I like a stranger stood, "And bore their vile reproach to bring "The Gentiles near to God.
9 "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.
10 "My fasting and my holy groans "Were made the drunkard's song; "But God, from his celestial throne, "Heard my complaining tongue.
11 "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.
12 "'Twas in a most accepted hour "My prayer arose on high, "And for my sake my God shall hear "The dying sinner's cry."