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Feb 07, 2026
Out of the Depths I Cry to You
Lyrics
1. Out of the depths I cry to you;
O Lord God, hear me calling.
Incline your ear to my distress
in spite of my rebelling.
Do not regard my sinful deeds.
Send me the grace my spirit needs;
without it I am nothing.
O Lord God, hear me calling.
Incline your ear to my distress
in spite of my rebelling.
Do not regard my sinful deeds.
Send me the grace my spirit needs;
without it I am nothing.
2. All things you send are full of grace;
you crown our lives with favor.
All our good works are done in vain
without our Lord and Savior.
We praise you for the gift of faith;
you save us from the grip of death;
our lives are in your keeping.
you crown our lives with favor.
All our good works are done in vain
without our Lord and Savior.
We praise you for the gift of faith;
you save us from the grip of death;
our lives are in your keeping.
3. In you alone, O God, we hope,
and not in our own merit.
We rest our fears in your good word;
uphold our fainting spirit.
Your promised mercy is my fort,
my comfort, and my strong support;
I wait for it with patience.
and not in our own merit.
We rest our fears in your good word;
uphold our fainting spirit.
Your promised mercy is my fort,
my comfort, and my strong support;
I wait for it with patience.
4. My soul is waiting for you, Lord,
as one who longs for morning;
no watcher waits with greater hope
than I for your returning.
I hope as Israel in the Lord,
who sends redemption through the Word.
Praise God for grace and mercy!
as one who longs for morning;
no watcher waits with greater hope
than I for your returning.
I hope as Israel in the Lord,
who sends redemption through the Word.
Praise God for grace and mercy!
Bible Reference
Psalm 130:1-8
About This Hymn
“Out of the Depths I Cry to You” is Martin Luther’s metrical paraphrase of Psalm 130, one of the classic penitential psalms. Written during the early years of the Reformation, the hymn reflects Luther’s deep pastoral concern for troubled consciences and his firm conviction that salvation rests solely on God’s mercy. Drawing directly from the language of Scripture, Luther gives voice to the cry of a sinner who knows his helplessness before God and yet clings to the promise of forgiveness. The hymn opens with a desperate plea from the depths of guilt and affliction, echoing the psalmist’s words, “Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD” (Psalm 130:1, KJV), and immediately establishes the central tension between human sinfulness and divine grace.
As the hymn unfolds, Luther emphasizes that if God were to mark iniquities, no one could stand, yet with the Lord there is forgiveness. This theme was especially significant in Luther’s time, when many believers struggled under fear and uncertainty about their standing before God. Rather than directing the soul to human works, penance, or merit, the hymn points firmly to God’s gracious character and His Word of promise. Faith, not self-effort, is presented as the proper response to God’s mercy, aligning closely with Luther’s teaching on justification by faith alone. The waiting of the soul for the Lord is compared to watchmen longing for the morning, a vivid biblical image that communicates patient trust grounded in hope.
The final portion of the hymn broadens the focus from the individual believer to the whole people of God, calling Israel, and by extension the church, to hope in the Lord. Redemption is portrayed as abundant and certain, for the Lord will redeem His people from all their iniquities. This communal note reinforces the hymn’s role not only as a personal prayer but also as a congregational confession of faith. Over the centuries, “Out of the Depths I Cry to You” has remained a powerful expression of repentance, assurance, and gospel hope, firmly rooted in Scripture and rich with theological clarity.
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Hymn Information
- Category: Hymn
- Tune: AUS TIEFER NOT
- Composer(s): Martin Luther
- Meter: 8.7.8.7.8.8.7
- Author/Writer: Martin Luther (1524)
- Added: February 7, 2026
- Last Updated: February 7, 2026
- Views: 26
To view the author's biography, click their name above.
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