Beneath the Cross of Jesus kneeling,
Dawns on my soul the endless day;
There, deeper than all tides of feeling,
Doth God His boundless grace display;
Thence flow the mystic waves of healing;
There all my stains are washed away.
God wrought for man, His love forth-shewing,
When Moses smote the rock of old;
And, lo, through Israel's camp on-flowing,
Out brake the longed-for flood, and rolled,
New strength, new joy, new life bestowing,
On lips that quaffed it, pure and cold.
God wrought for man, mankind redeeming,
When Christ was pierced by Roman spear,
And, o'er the thirsty world down-streaming,
Forth gushed a fountain, cool and clear,
Till souls, beside those waters gleaming,
Forgot in joy sin's desert drear.
Beside that well for aye abiding,
New strength, new joy, new life I gain;
Within that cleft securely hiding,
No care can cark, no sorrow stain;
Here rests the blissful soul confiding,
Here faith the healing draught can drain.
Lord, let my heart, this gift receiving,
Beat one glad anthem to Thy praise;
And may the stream, Thy pierced heart leaving
Refresh and heal me all my days:
Thus by Thy blood my life retrieving,
A psalm of endless thanks I'll raise.
Passion-Hymns of Iceland, 1913