With Broken Heart and Contrite Sigh
With broken heart and contrite sigh
With Broken Heart and Contrite Sigh is a hymn text by Johann Heermann (1630) in L.M. (8.8.8.8) meter. Translated by Catherine Winkworth. Found in CW93 303, ELH 455, lw 297, tlh 323.
The hymn embodies Lutheran penitential theology, emphasizing genuine contrition and trust in God's gracious forgiveness rather than works-righteousness or external penances. It reflects the Reformation insight that true repentance involves a broken spirit acknowledging unworthiness before God's mercy.
History & Background
Originally composed in German as 'Mit Bußem Herzen und Reue' by Johann Heermann during the Thirty Years' War, published in his hymnal Devoti Musica Cordis in 1630. Catherine Winkworth's English translation appeared in her Lyra Germanica (1858) and became standard in Lutheran hymnals.
Hymnal Appearances
- Christian Worship — 303
- Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary — 455
- Lutheran Worship — 297
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 323
Translation
Bulletin Note
Written by Johann Heermann during the Thirty Years' War, this hymn teaches Reformed penitential theology: true repentance trusts God's grace alone, rejecting works-righteousness. A cornerstone of Lutheran devotion.
Preaching Connection
This hymn crystallizes Lutheran Law-Gospel preaching by showing that genuine contrition is not a work we offer God but a gift the Spirit works in us—making it the proper response to both the Law's accusation and the Gospel's absolution.
Overview
A hymn on the publican's prayer (Luke 18:13) by Cornelius Elven, an English Baptist pastor. Every stanza ends 'O God, be merciful to me!' The trembling sinner cries to free grace (st. 1); beats his breast with Christ's cross as his only plea (st. 2); stands far off, not daring to look up (st. 3); confesses that no alms or deeds can atone for one sin — 'To Calvary alone I flee' (st. 4); and in heaven the same prayer becomes his eternal song (st. 5).
Central theme: The publican's prayer as the whole of the sinner's plea: no works, only Christ's cross and God's mercy
Structure
Five long-meter quatrains with the refrain 'O God, be merciful to me!' Contrition (1) — plea (2) — distance (3) — no works (4) — eternal song (5).
Law & Gospel Shape
Law: broken heart; 'deep and conscious guilt'; no works atone (1-4). Gospel: 'pardoning grace is rich and free'; 'Christ and His cross my only plea'; 'To Calvary alone I flee' (1-4).
Confessional Connections
Luke 18:13 (TLH's text). The publican 'went down to his house justified' (18:14) — the Lutheran paradigm of justification by faith without works (Ap IV.155ff; AC IV). St. 4 is explicit: 'Nor alms nor deeds that I have done / Can for a single sin atone' — against satisfactions and merit (AC XII.10; Ap XII.116ff; Eph 2:8-9). Repentance = contrition and faith (AC XII.3-5): broken heart (st. 1-3), then flight to Calvary (st. 2, 4). St. 5 keeps the prayer in heaven: the saints remain recipients of mercy forever.
Liturgical Use (Study Notes)
Lent; Confession; Eleventh Sunday after Trinity (Luke 18:9-14); penitential services.
Historical Notes
Elven (1797-1873; byline gives 1791), Baptist pastor at Bury St. Edmunds for fifty years; the hymn appeared in 1852.
About the Tune
ST. LUKE (Jeremiah Clarke, 1707).
Scripture References
Luke 18:9-14 Ps 51:17 Isa 66:2 1 Cor 2:2 Gal 6:14 Ezra 9:6 Eph 2:8-9 Titus 3:5 Rom 3:28 Rev 5:9 Rev 7:14
Stanza by Stanza
With a broken heart and a repentant sigh, I cry to you, Lord, a trembling sinner. Your pardoning grace is rich and free — God, be merciful to me!
'A broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise' (Ps 51:17). 'This is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite' (Isa 66:2). Refrain: 'O God, be merciful to me!' (Luke 18:13).
- Scripture
- Ps 51:17, Isa 66:2, Luke 18:13
- Imagery & language
- Broken heart; trembling; free grace.
- Law / Gospel
- Law — contrition; Gospel — free grace.
- Connection to previous
- Contrition.
I beat my troubled breast, weighed down with deep and conscious guilt: Christ and his cross are my only plea — God, be merciful to me!
The publican 'beat his breast' (Luke 18:13). 'I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified' (1 Cor 2:2). 'Far be it from me to boast except in the cross' (Gal 6:14).
- Scripture
- Luke 18:13, 1 Cor 2:2, Gal 6:14
- Imagery & language
- Breast smitten; guilt; Christ's cross the only plea.
- Law / Gospel
- Law — guilt; Gospel — the cross.
- Connection to previous
- Only plea.
I stand far off with tearful eyes and don't dare lift them to heaven; but you see all my anguish — God, be merciful to me!
'Standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven' (Luke 18:13). 'I am ashamed and blush to lift my face to you' (Ezra 9:6).
- Scripture
- Luke 18:13, Ezra 9:6, Ps 38:9
- Imagery & language
- Far off; tearful eyes; anguish seen.
- Law / Gospel
- Law — shame; Gospel — God sees.
- Connection to previous
- Far off.
Neither alms nor any deeds I have done can atone for a single sin. I flee to Calvary alone — God, be merciful to me!
'By grace you have been saved through faith… not a result of works' (Eph 2:8-9). 'Not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy' (Titus 3:5). 'Justified by faith apart from works of the law' (Rom 3:28). AC IV, XII.
- Scripture
- Eph 2:8-9, Titus 3:5, Rom 3:28
- Imagery & language
- No alms or deeds; Calvary alone.
- Law / Gospel
- Law — works excluded; Gospel — Calvary.
- Connection to previous
- Calvary alone.
And when, redeemed from sin and hell, I live with the whole ransomed company, my rapturous song will forever be: God, be merciful to me!
The song of the ransomed (Rev 5:9). 'They have washed their robes… in the blood of the Lamb' (Rev 7:14). Mercy remains the theme of heaven.
- Scripture
- Rev 5:9, Rev 7:14
- Imagery & language
- Redeemed; ransomed throng; eternal song.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — mercy forever.
- Connection to previous
- Eternal song.
Themes
Repentance Contrition God's mercy Forgiveness Justification