Christ My Song - 749
Awaked by Sinai's awful sound
(Samson Occom/Johannes Thomas Rüegg)
Awaked by Sinai's awful sound.
1. Awaked by Sinai's awful sound,
my soul in bonds of guilt I found,
and knew not where to go;
eternal truth did loud proclaim,
“The sinner must be born again,
or sink to endless woe.” (PDF - Midi)
2. Amazed I stood, but could not tell
which way to shun the gates of hell,
for death and hell drew near;
I strove, indeed, but strove in vain;
“The sinner must be born again,”
still sounded in my ear.
3. When to the law I trembling fled,
it poured its curses on my head,
I no relief could find;
this fearful truth increased my pain,
“The sinner must be born again,”
and whelmed my tortured mind.
4. Again did Sinai's thunders roll,
and guilt lay heavy on my soul,
a vast oppressive load;
alas! I read and saw it plain,
“The sinner must be born again,
or drink the wrath of God.”
5. The saints I heard with rapture tell
how Jesus conquered death and hell,
and broke the fowler's snare;
yet when I found this truth remain,
“The sinner must be born again,”
I sunk in deep despair.
6. But while I thus in anguish lay,
the gracious Saviour passed this way,
and felt his pity move;
the sinner, by his justice slain,
now by his grace is born again,
and sings redeeming love.
7. To heaven my joyful praises flew,
singing the song for ever new,
to Christ my voice did raise:
All hail the Lamb that once was slain,
unnumbered millions born again
shall shout thine endless praise.
Samson Occom, in: Edwin M. Long: Illustrated History of Hymns and their Authors, 1882, 327.