When Through The Deep Waters

I called to God in my distress,

He heard my plaintive plea;

in Sheol's dark and gaping maw

He heard and answered me

'twas He who cast me in the deep,

His floods surrounded me;

He sent the waves, the mounting swells,

to snare me in the sea

the waters heaped above my head,

their walls encircled me;

down to the mountain's root I sank,

the buttress of the sea

and there a coil of leaden weeds

fell thick about my head;

it clutched and choked and drew me down

in dark dismay and dread

my breath, my life, had ebbed away,

yet I remembered Thee;

my supplication reached Thine ear

from deep beneath the sea

I cried, "Thine eye is far from me,

and hidden is Thy face!

Yet I shall come again one day

and see Thy dwelling place."

those who pay heed to idols vain

no answer shall receive;

no hope have they of steadfast love,

no rescue shall achieve

but I a sacrifice shall make,

shall keep my promised word;

my hymn shall soar in thanks to Thee:

"my help comes from the Lord!"

---

the song of Jonah put to verse,

from Jonah 2:2-9

titled from "How Firm A Foundation"