Psalm 69 (Version 1, Part 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.

"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."