Dr. Watts's Imitation of the Psalms of David ‎#146

146. Save me, O God; the swelling floods

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 honors to thy law,
'Which sinners took away.'

5 Thus in the great Messiah's name,
The royal Prophet mourns;
Thus he awakes our heart 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 pray'r arose on high,
'And for my sake my God shall hear
'The dying sinner's cry.'

Text Information

• First Line: Save me, O God; the swelling floods
• Meter: C. M.
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1790
• Scripture:
  Psalm 69:1-14
• Notes: Part 1

Tune Information

(No tune information)