From Depths of Woe I Cry to Thee
From depths of woe I cry to thee
This hymn exemplifies Lutheran theology by depicting the sinner's desperate cry for mercy and God's gracious response through Christ's atonement, emphasizing justification by faith alone. It reflects Luther's emphasis on honest acknowledgment of sin coupled with absolute trust in divine forgiveness rather than human works.
History & Background
Martin Luther composed this penitential hymn in 1524, basing it on Psalm 130 (De Profundis) and publishing it in early Lutheran hymnals. It became one of the most enduring texts of the German Reformation and a cornerstone of Lutheran hymnody.
Hymnal Appearances
- Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 295
- Lutheran Book of Worship — 295
- Lutheran Service Book — 607
- Lutheran Worship — 230
- Trinity Hymnal — 399
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 329
Translation
Bach Cantatas
- BWV 38: Out of deep need I cry to you (1724)
Bulletin Note
Luther's penitential masterpiece (1524), based on Psalm 130. This reformation-era hymn crystallizes Lutheran theology: the sinner's honest cry meets the cross's absolute grace, binding Law and Gospel into one liberating proclamation.
Preaching Connection
This hymn embodies the Law-Gospel dialectic Luther championed: it names sin's desperation while proclaiming Christ's redemptive sufficiency, making it a powerful companion to any sermon on justification by faith alone.
Catechism & Confessional Connections
- Of Justification Augsburg Confession
Stanza Arc
The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: From human despair and sinfulness (Law) through God's pardoning grace (Gospel) to confident hope in God's redemption
Themes
Repentance and forgiveness God's mercy and grace Justification by faith Cry for deliverance Hope in Christ