Scripture Verse

I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Psalm 51:3

Introduction

portrait
Isaac Watts (1674–1748)

Words: Is­aac Watts, The Psalms of Da­vid 1719. Orig­in­al and ac­tu­al sin con­fessed & par­doned.

Music: Wind­sor Chris­to­pher Tye, 1533. Ar­ranged in the Booke of Mu­sicke, by Will­iam Da­man, 1591 (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pic­ture of Tye (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

Lord, I would spread my sore distress
And guilt before Thine eyes;
Against Thy laws, against Thy grace,
How high my crimes arise!

Shouldst Thou condemn my soul to hell,
And crush my flesh to dust,
Heav’n would approve Thy vengeance well,
And earth must own it just.

I from the stock of Ad­am came,
Unholy and unclean;
All my original is shame
And all my nature sin.

Born in a world of guilt, I drew
Contagion with my breath;
And as my days advanced, I grew
A juster prey for death.

Cleanse me, O Lord, and cheer my soul
With Thy forgiving love;
And make my broken spirit whole,
And bid my pains remove.

Let not Thy spirit quite depart,
Nor drive me from Thy face;
Create anew my vicious heart
And fill it with Thy grace.

Then I will make Thy mercy known
Before the sons of men;
Backsliders shall address Thy throne,
And turn to God again.