The words
Stanza 1. Once a woman silent stoodWhile JESUS sat at meat;From her eyes she poured a floodTo wash his sacred feetShame and wonder, joy and love;All at once possessed her mind:That she e’er so vile could prove,Yet now forgiveness find.
Stanza 2. “How came this vile woman here,Will JESUS notice such?Sure, if he a prophet were,He would disdain her touch!”Simon thus, with scornful heart,Slighted one whom JESUS loved;But her Savior took her part,And thus his pride reproved.
Stanza 3. “If two men in debt were bound,One less, the other more;Fifty, or five hundred pound,And both alike were poor;Should the lender both forgive,When he saw them both distressed;Which of them would you believeEngaged to love him best?”
Stanza 4. “Surely he who most did owe,”The Pharisee replied;Then our LORD, by judging so,“Thou dost for her decide:Simon if like her you knewHow much you forgiveness need;You like her had acted too,And welcomed me indeed!
Stanza 5. When the load of sin is felt,And much forgiveness known;Then the heart of course will melt,Though hard before as stone:Blame not then her love and tears,Greatly she in debt has been;But I have removed her fears,And pardoned all her sin.”
Stanza 6. When I read this woman’s case,Her love and humble zeal;I confess, with shame of face,My heart is made of steel,Much has been forgiv’n to me,JESUS paid my heavy score;What a creature must I beThat I can love no more!
Olney Hymns (1779), Book 1, Hymn 98. John Newton. Public domain. CCEL transcription with modernized spelling. www.praylock.com/olney-hymns/1-98
