Song of Repentance from Psalm CXLIII

Lord, lend a gracious ear

Author: Paul Gerhardt; Translator: J. Kelly (1867)
Published in 1 hymnal

Representative Text

Lord, lend a gracious ear
To my desire sincere,
From heart all free from guile,
And glad me with Thy smile,
Accept my petition.

Not wealth is my request,
That on the earth doth rest,
That shall at length decay,
With earth must pass away,
And can never save us.

The treasure I desire
Is Thine own grace, O Sire!
The grace that Thy dear Son,
Of saving grace the throne,
By His death hath purchas’d.

Thou pure and righteous art,
Unholy is my heart,
All dead in sin I live,
But sin dost Thou forgive,
Who art God most faithful.

And be Thy faithfulness
My trust and happiness;
Turn from my sin Thy face
With overflowing grace
My guiltiness cover.

Consider what we be—
A moment, where are we?
As brittle as frail glass,
As fading as the grass,
By a breath we’re swept off.

If Thou wilt only view
The evil that we do,
So great our load of sin,
None e’er could stand within
Heaven’s gate most holy.

How Jesus Christ for me
Himself hath giv’n, see!
What I to do have fail’d
His power hath avail’d,
His doing and dying.

Thou lov’st remorse and smart,
Behold, here is a heart
That knows and feels its sin,
And burns like fire within
With grief, pain, and sorrow.

I’m like a thirsty land
From which Thy gracious hand
Hath long withheld the rain,
Until we seek in vain
For strength, fruit, or moisture.

Like hart upon the heath,
That cries with gasping breath
For water fresh and clear,
I call into Thine ear,
Fount of living water!

My spirit, Lord, revive,
Rich consolation give;
Speak, that my soul may rest
Upon the friendly breast
Of Thy love eternal.

Give me a trustful mood,
That when the mighty flood
Of sin o’erwhelmeth me,
My grief absorb’d may be
In Thy mercy’s ocean.

Drive off the wicked foe
That seeks my overthrow;
Thou art my Shepherd, I
Will be eternally
A sheep of Thy pasture.

As long as I shall dwell
On earth, to do Thy will
I give myself to Thee,
And evermore shall be
Thine own faithful servant.

Though feeble, I shall be
Still grateful unto Thee,
For in Thy might alone,
That worketh in Thine own,
All my power standeth.

Then send Thy Spirit down,
Who points out to Thine own
The way that pleaseth Thee;
They never mov’d shall be,
Who keep Him indwelling.

Thou shalt go on before,
Shalt open me the door
That leads to wisdom’s way,
I’ll follow every day,
Copying Thee ever.

And when at length ’tis giv’n
To tread the courts of heav’n,
With angel hosts to Thee
I’ll sing eternally
To Thy praise and glory.

Paul Gerhardt’s Spiritual Songs, 1867

Author: Paul Gerhardt

Paul Gerhardt (b. Gräfenheinichen, Saxony, Germany, 1607; d. Lubben, Germany, 1676), famous author of Lutheran evangelical hymns, studied theology and hymnody at the University of Wittenberg and then was a tutor in Berlin, where he became friends with Johann Crüger. He served the Lutheran parish of Mittenwalde near Berlin (1651-1657) and the great St. Nicholas' Church in Berlin (1657-1666). Friederich William, the Calvinist elector, had issued an edict that forbade the various Protestant groups to fight each other. Although Gerhardt did not want strife between the churches, he refused to comply with the edict because he thought it opposed the Lutheran "Formula of Concord," which con­demned some Calvinist doctrines. Consequently, he was r… Go to person page >

Translator: J. Kelly

Kelly, John, was born at Newcastle-on-Tyne, educated at Glasgow University, studied theology at Bonn, New College, Edinburgh, and the Theological College of the English Presbyterian Church (to which body he belongs) in London. He has ministered to congregations at Hebburn-on-Tyne and Streatham, and was Tract Editor of the Religious Tract Society. His translations of Paul Gerhardt's Spiritual Songs were published in 1867. Every piece is given in full, and rendered in the metre of the originals. His Hymns of the Present Century from the German were published in 1886 by the Religious Tract Society. In these translations the metres of the originals have not always been followed, whilst some of the hymns have been abridged and others condens… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Lord, lend a gracious ear
Title: Song of Repentance from Psalm CXLIII
German Title: Herr, hoere, was mein Mund
Author: Paul Gerhardt
Translator: J. Kelly (1867)
Meter: 6.6.6.6.6
Language: English
Publication Date: 1867
Copyright: This text is in the public domain in the United States because it was published before 1929.

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Paul Gerhardt's Spiritual Songs #21

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