De Profundis (Psalm 130)
Out of the depths, I cry and I sweat.
Wasting and waning, I call out to you,
For I believe there may still be hope yet.
“The Lord,” I say, “is my portion”, and yet
Weighty with sin I cannot stand before you –
Out of the depths, I cry and I sweat.
From murky depths, this muffled cry: Let
Your ears hear me, Lord. What else can I do?
(For, I believe, there may still be hope yet…)
With you, they say there’s forgiveness, it’s true,
And so – I fear, and I quake for hope yet…
Out of the depths, I cry and sweat.
I have heard it said you pardon all who repent,
All who cry humbly and wait upon you.
So out of the depths, I cry and I sweat,
For yes, I believe there may still be hope yet.
The Consolations of Writing 