Hymns from the Greek Office Books Part 5

I

Tossed on the sea of life, And sick and sore distressed, I lift my cry to Thee, O Lord, Who giv'st the troubled rest.

II

There, where the waters yawn, And cruel monsters grin, My comrades sink to depths below, All in a sea of sin.

III

My earnest cry I raise, Hear Thou the prayer I make, And from the dark abyss of death My soul in mercy take.

Centos And Suggestions

{hai myrophoroi gynaikes, orthrou batheos}

I

At early dawn, with pious thought, The holy women spices brought-- For Christ, their Lord, was dead;-- But lo! the stone was rolled away: "Where are the seals?" they wondering say, "The guard, where He was laid?"

II

"Why with your ointments mix your tears?

Why all this sighing, and those fears?"

An angel near declares: "There lies the stone that barred the tomb, No longer now its solemn gloom Your Lord and Master shares."

III

"Haste, haste with joy the tidings tell, The Lord hath vanquished death and h.e.l.l, For He, the Death of death, Hath burst asunder hades prison, And, first-born from the dead hath risen, Even as afore He saith."

IV

Honour to Thee, O Christ, we bring, Thy glorious rising now we sing, Victorious is Thy strife; Our Hope, our Trust, on Thee we call, Our Joy, our Strength, our G.o.d, our All, And our Immortal Life.

{kai strapheis ho kyrios eneblepse to Petro}

I

I brought my darkest sin to mind, And called it by the vilest name, And thought to fill my soul with grief, When I had charged it with the blame;-- I said, "Before my G.o.d I'll fall,"

But sorrow came not at my call.

II

I said, "Ah, soul! the wrath of G.o.d Shall smite the sinner with dismay, The record of thy sin is kept, And swiftly nears the reckoning day;"-- Methought I heard G.o.d's thunders roll, But sorrow came not to my soul.

III

"Ah, stony heart! can thought of sin In all its vileness bring no tears?

And canst thou hear G.o.d's thunders speak, And weep not though the reckoning nears?"

I had no weeping to control, For sorrow came not to my soul.

IV

I looked, my Saviour looked at me, O look of love no heart can bear!

Like raging torrents came my tears, And plunged my spirit in despair; Vain, vain my weeping to control, For sorrow now hath found my soul.

{kai aneoxas hemin paradeisou tas pylas}

I

O G.o.d of light and glory, Thy servants look to see The light that s.h.i.+nes effulgent Upon their souls from Thee.

II

And lo! the heavens are open, And from the throne of G.o.d, The Christ, the Light eternal, That glory sheds abroad.

III

And eyes reflect the beauty, And hearts responding glow; For only they who see Thee Can in Thy likeness grow.

{kai klausomen, kai praxomen}

I

I have no tears to shed, For grief my soul hath none; My heart hath never bled, For ought that I have done; I weep not when I hear Thee say That sin hath carried me away.

II

I have no tears to shed; Wilt Thou not touch my heart, And bid sin's wounds run red, And throb with bitter smart?-- Then shall I lift my prayer and say, "Lord, take my many sins away."

III