Lord, be merciful unto me…for I have sinned against Thee.
Psalm 41:4
Words: Magnus B. Landstad, 1861 (Jeg staar for Gud, som alting ved). Translated from Norwegian to English by Carl Døving, 1909.
Music: Vater unser Geistliche Lieder (Leipzig, Germany: 1539). Harmony by Johann S. Bach, 1726 (🔊 pdf nwc).
Before Thee, God, who knowest all,
With grief and shame I prostrate fall,
I see my sins against Thee, Lord,
The sins of thought, of deed, and word.
They press me sore; I cry to Thee:
O God, be merciful to me!
O Lord, my God, to Thee I pray:
O cast me not in wrath away!
Let Thy good Spirit ne’er depart,
But let Him draw to Thee my heart
That truly penitent I be:
O God, be merciful to me!
O Jesus, let Thy precious blood
Be to my soul a cleansing flood.
Turn not, O Lord, Thy guest away,
But grant that justified I may
Go to my house at peace with Thee:
O God, be merciful to me!