Scripture Verse

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Psalm 51:10

Introduction

portrait
John B. Dykes (1823–1876)

Words: From The Psal­ter (Pitts­burgh, Penn­syl­van­ia: Unit­ed Pres­by­ter­ian Board of Pub­li­ca­tion, 1912), num­ber 141.

Music: Geth­se­ma­ne (Dykes) John B. Dykes (1823–1876) (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know when the mu­sic was writ­ten,

Lyrics

Gracious God, my heart renew,
Make my spirit right and true;
Cast me not away from Thee,
Let Thy Spir­it dwell in me;
Thy sal­va­tion’s joy impart,
Steadfast make my willing heart.

Sinners then shall learn from me
And return, O God, to Thee;
Savior, all my guilt remove,
And my tongue shall sing Thy love;
Touch my silent lips, O Lord,
And my mouth shall praise accord.

Not the formal sacrifice
Has acceptance in Thine eyes;
Broken hearts are in Thy sight
More than sacrificial rite;
Contrite spirit, pleading cries,
Thou, O God, will not despise.

Prosper Zion in Thy grace
And her broken walls replace:
Then our righteous sacrifice
Shall delight Thy holy eyes;
Free-will offerings, gladly made,
On Thine altar shall be laid.