PENITENCE.
Ich will von meiner Missethat
[188]Louisa Henrietta, Electress of Brandenburg
trans. by Catherine Winkworth, 1869
I will return unto the Lord
From all my evil ways;
O God, do Thou Thy help afford,
Teach me to seek Thy face,
Thy Holy Spirit's strength impart
Who can anew create my heart,
Deny me not this grace.
For man sees not his wretched plight
Till Thy touch make him see;
Without Thy Spirit's inner light
All blind and dead is he,
Biassed in sense and will and deed;
O Father, let me now be freed
From this great misery!
Lord, knock in mercy at my door,
And all that I have done
Against Thee, do Thou set before
This heart, till it is won
To mourn that it was e'er so weak,
And in my grief adown this cheek
Hot tears of sorrow run.
For of thy gifts, ah! what a wealth
Hast Thou on me bestowed;
To Thee I owe my life and health,
My cup hath overflowed;
Than food and raiment Thou dost grant
So much besides, that no real want
Hath darkened my abode.
And Thou in Christ hast rescued me
From out of death's dark flood,
Thou dost not leave my soul to be
In lack of any good;
And lest I dwell in careless ease,
Forgetting Him who gave me these,
Betimes I feel Thy rod.
Have I then striven as sure I ought,
To love Thee and obey?
Ah no! this heart and conscience fraught
With grief, full truly say
I have forgot Thee, and they mourn
With deep remorse and anguish torn
For Sin's long easy sway.
Till now in false security
My conscience slept, and said,
"There yet is time enough for thee;
God is not stern," it said;
"So strict account He doth not keep,
The Shepherd's patience with His sheep
Not soon is spent and fled."
But suddenly that sleep was broke,
And now my heart will break;
Thy voice in mighty thunders spoke,
Thy lightnings made me quake;
I see the realms of death and hell
Advance in power I cannot quell
My soul their prey to make.
Ah Jesu Christ! our mighty Rock,
I flee alone to Thee,
Within Thy clefts from every shock
O hide and shelter me!
O Lamb of God, didst Thou not bear
All sins of men and e'en my share
Upon the fatal tree?
Then with Thy Father intercede,
That He no more should think
Of all my sins, each evil deed
That makes me quail and shrink.
Ah let the burden of my guilt,
For which such precious blood was spilt,
Beneath the ocean sink!
And henceforth will I day by day,
With strenuous ceaseless care,
From all false pleasures turn away,
And rather all things bear
Than willingly to sin give place:
Dear Lord, give Thou Thy strength and grace
To do as I declare!