"Alas, My God, My Sins Are Great"
                          by Johann Major, 1564-1654
                 Translated by Catherine Winkworth, 1829-1878
                                  Text From:
                              THE LUTHERAN HYMNAL
                 (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1941)
                                       


        1. Alas, my God, my sins are great,
        My conscience doth upbraid me;
        And now I find that in my strait
        No man hath power to aid me.

        2. And fled I hence in my despair
        In some lone spot to hide me,
        My griefs would still be with me there
        And peace still be denied me.

        3. Lord, Thee I seek, I merit naught;
        Yet pity and restore me.
        Just God, be not Thy wrath my lot;
        Thy Son hath suffered for me.

        4. If pain and woe must follow sin,
        Then be my path still rougher.
        Here spare me not; if heaven I win,
        On earth I gladly suffer.

        5. But curb my heart, forgive my guilt,
        Make Thou my patience firmer;
        For they must miss the good Thou wilt
        Who at Thy chastenings murmur.

        6. Then deal with me as seems Thee best--
        Thy grace will help me bear it
        If but at last I see Thy rest
        And with my Savior share it.
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        Notes:
        Hymn #317 from _The Lutheran Hymnal_
        Text: Ps. 38:4
        Author: Johann Major, 1613
        Translated by: Catherine Winkworth, 1863, alt.
        Titled: "Ach Gott und Herr, wie gross und schwer"
        Tune: "Ach Gott und Herr"
        1st Published in: _Andachts-Zymbeln_
        Town: Freyberg, 1655
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        This text was converted to ascii format for Project Wittenberg
             by Debbie Harris and is in the public domain. You may
         freely distribute, copy or print this text. Please direct any
        comments or suggestions to: Rev. Robert E. Smith of the Walther
                  Library at Concordia Theological Seminary.

                          E-mail: bob_smith@ctsfw.edu

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