1 In sorrow and distress,
To Thee, O Lord, we fly;
In penitential lowliness
To Thee for mercy cry.

2 Mercy, O mercy, Lord;
From Thee we have our breath :
We read it written in Thy Word,
“God willeth not your death.

3 God gave His only Son
Your sins to take away;
And God’s dear Son to Heav’n is gone
On your behalf to pray.

4 By Thine own love we plead,
O hearken to our prayer;
By Him, who for our sins did bleed,
Spare us, O Father, spare.

5 Our drooping minds refresh
With showers of heav’nly dew;
For hearts of stone give hearts of flesh,
Renew us, Lord, renew.

6 Comfort, and make us whole,
With Thy free Spirit’s grace;
Lift up, O Lord, upon our soul
The luster of Thy face.

7 With Jesu’s white robe hide
Our manifold offense;
And cleanse with blood from Jesu’s side
Our tears of penitence.

8 Constrain us to abhor
The sins that made Him grieve;
And ne’er to tempt the Spirit more
Our thankless hearts to leave.

9 Make us, O Lord, to tread
The path which Jesus trod;
Which Him from earth in triumph led
To the right hand of God.

10 So, with the saints in Heav’n,
May we sing praise to Thee,
For peace restored, and sins forgiv’n
To all eternity.