From Depths of Woe I Cry to You
From depths of woe I cry to you
The hymn exemplifies Lutheran theology of repentance and justification, emphasizing human sinfulness before a holy God while proclaiming the assurance of forgiveness through Christ's grace. It reflects Luther's understanding that believers find hope not in their own merit but entirely in God's steadfast love and faithfulness.
History & Background
Martin Luther composed this hymn in 1524 as a metrical paraphrase of Psalm 130 (De profundis), likely during the early Reformation period when congregational singing was being established. The hymn was first published in the 1524 Erfurt Enchiridion and quickly became a foundational Lutheran hymn, appearing in numerous German hymnals throughout the Reformation.
Hymnal Appearances
- Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 295
- Glory to God — 166
- Lutheran Book of Worship — 295
- Lutheran Service Book — 607
- Lutheran Worship — 230
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 329
- Voices Together — 98
Translation
Bach Cantatas
- BWV 38: Out of deep need I cry to you (1724)
Bulletin Note
Martin Luther's 1524 hymn on Psalm 130. A cornerstone of Lutheran hymnody, it shaped Reformation piety by uniting naked honesty about sin with bold trust in Christ's redemptive work.
Preaching Connection
This hymn embodies Luther's Law-Gospel dialectic: it exposes human sinfulness and despair before announcing the astounding freedom found in justification by grace through faith alone.
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 Justification by faith Psalm 130 Christian assurance