De Profundis

De Profundis [i]

3 Sonnets

Out of the depths, O Lord, I cry to thee:
Carest thou not, nor markest how I grieve?
The pangs of loneliness rack cruelly:
My friends have left; my God, wilt thou too leave?
With one unyielding hand thou tearest me,
Preservest with the other, so that I
Can neither love life, nor yet senseless be:
God! only let me live or let me die.
For I thy handiwork, Lord, am not mine:
Thou hast redeemed me at how dear! a price;
Thou loved me, called me, saved me, – I am thine:
Dost thou not care for thine own sacrifice?
Wherefore lift up my soul from its soul-grave,
And rend no longer whom thou shouldest save.

*

Thou makest me to hope upon thy word;
I search it night and day, for there I find
Thy mercies are all true, of which I heard:
Thou art indeed, Lord, pitiful and kind.
Why are they happy, then, who love not thee,
And I cast down, who thee alone do love?
Why dost thou bless them, when thou breakest me?
Yet will I trust: thy righteous judgments prove.
Thou wilt not cast them off who are thine own:
Am not I thine, O Merciful and Just?
Rejoice! my soul; thou art not left alone:
Therefore I lift my mouth out of the dust,
And though my heart lie mute and overawed,
I murmur, ‘Thou art good, and thou art God.’

*

And thou art God: what answer need I more?
Or with my Maker how shall I contend?
Thou woundest; yet I trust thee as before:
Heal whom thou wilt, and rend whom thou wilt rend,
It matters not; for I will trust forever:
Thou, being God, art loving, tender, just;
Judge me in love, thou mighty Mercy-Giver!
Quicken my soul – O lift me from the dust!
My heart is bowed down, but I hope in thee:
Wilt thou not help a vile, sinful worm?
Almighty God! stoop from infinity,
And bind up tenderly my broken form;
So trusting thou my God art thou my friend,
I meekly wait for the desired end.

[i] Latin: “Out of the Depths”

One Response to “De Profundis”

  1. Bridesong Music Chorus International says:
    June 30, 2011 at 12:33 pm

    This sooner or later is a valley we as Christians cannot escape – anyone would be termed “insane” to look forward to this season – however, as Job declared., ” now I have seen Thee with my eyes, and I repent in dust and ashes ! ” Once one has traveled this darkness – the change experienced is one wrought only through the fire ! This what I term ” God’s beauty treatments to His beautiful bride ” much different than the world and a facial or pampering from Oprah ! A beuaty shrouded in mystery and contrary to the beauty esteemed on Earth. (A M De Nuccio II , 2011).

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