General information
This is an hymn by Isaac Watts, 1707, Hymn 115 of Book 1, based on Romans 7:8-24, and subtitled Conviction of sin by the law. Meter is 86. 86 (C.M.).
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Text and translations
 English text
1. Lord, how secure my conscience was,
And felt no inward dread!
I was alive without the law,
And thought my sins were dead.
2. My hopes of heaven were firm and bright,
But since the precept came
With a convincing power and light,
I find how vile I am.
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3. My guilt appeared but small before,
Till terribly I saw
How perfect, holy, just, and pure,
Was thine eternal law.
4. Then felt my soul the heavy load,
My sins revived again
I had provoked a dreadful God,
And all my hopes were slain.
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5. I'm like a helpless captive, sold
Under the power of sin
I cannot do the good I would,
Nor keep my conscience clean.
6. My God, I cry with every breath
For some kind power to save,
To break the yoke of sin and death,
And thus redeem the slave.
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