Latinised Hymns

Rock of ages, cleft for me

Rock of ages, cleft for me,
let me hide myself in thee;
let the water and the blood
from thy wounded side which flowed,
be of sin the double cure,
cleanse me from its guilt and power.

Not the labour of my hands
can fulfill thy law's demands;
could my zeal no respite know,
could my tears forever flow,
all for sin could not atone;
thou must save, and thou alone.

Nothing in my hand I bring,
simply to thy cross I cling;
naked, come to thee for dress;
helpless look to thee for grace;
foul, I to the fountain fly;
wash me, Saviour, or I die.

While I draw this fleeting breath,
when mine eyelids close in death,
when I soar through tracts unknown,
see thee on thy judgment throne,
Rock of ages, cleft for me,
let me hide myself in thee.

A.M.Toplady

Saxum vetus, propter me
caesum, condar intra te;
mixtus sanguine latex,
quem profuderas, duplex
culpae medicina sit
cuius valde puduit.

Mea quod manus gerit
legi tuae deficit;
caream si requie,
fluant usque lacrimae,
non luentur scelera:
in te salus unica.

Nihil in manu fero;
Cruci totus haereo,
nudus, ut me vestias,
impotens, ut subeas,
foedus, fontem ut petam:
o lava, ne peream!

Spiritum trahens brevem,
mors cum caecet aciem,
supra cum elatus sim,
iudicem te viderim,
saxum vetus, propter me
caesum, condar intra te.

MM 1–5.8.98