When first I thought upon my way,
My soul was dark—I could not pray;
A twilight seemed to break within
And showed my heart was full of sin.
The voice of God came from on high:
The soul that sinneth, it shall die!
And what to do I did not know,
The fear of death disturbed me so.
Before the law I stood condemned,
A sinner—lost—without a friend.
Is there no way—is it too late
To save me from my awful fate?
I then resolved to cease from sin
And have my conscience pure within.
To do good works I tried and tried—
“No mercy here,” the law replied.
The precious Saviour then I saw,
For me He was the end of law.
On His shed blood I then relied:
It was for sinners Jesus died.