Here at Bethesda’s pool, the poor

The words

1. 1

   Stanza 1. Here at Bethesda’s pool, the poor,The withered, halt, and blind;With waiting hearts expect a cure,And free admittance find.

2. 2

   Stanza 2. Here streams of wondrous virtue flowTo heal a sin–sick soul;To wash the filthy white as snow,And make the wounded whole.

3. 3

   Stanza 3. The dumb break forth in songs of praise,The blind their fight receive;The cripple runs in wisdom’s ways,The dead revive, and live!

4. 4

   Stanza 4. Restrained to no one case, or time,These waters always move;Sinners, in every age and clime,Their vital influence prove.

5. 5

   Stanza 5. Yet numbers daily near them lie,Who meet with no relief;With life in view they pine and dieIn hopeless unbelief.

6. 6

   Stanza 6. ’Tis strange they should refuse to bathe,And yet frequent the pool;But none can even wish for faith,While love of sin bears rule.

7. 7

   Stanza 7. Satan their consciences has sealed,And stupefied their thought;For were they willing to be healed,The cure would soon be wrought.

8. 8

   Stanza 8. Do thou, dear Savior, interpose,Their stubborn wills constrain;Or else to them the water flows,And grace is preached in vain.

Olney Hymns (1779), Book 1, Hymn 113. John Newton. Public domain. CCEL transcription with modernized spelling. www.praylock.com/olney-hymns/1-113