O come, if sinner be thy name

1 O come, if sinner be thy name,
And sin's sore burden thou art feeling,
To Him who never put to shame
The suppliant at His footstool kneeling,
Why wilt thou gloom for glory choose,
And His free gift of life refuse?
Wilt thou file bondage love for ever,
When He proclaims the word, Deliver?
Ah! cease thy dearest friend to grieve,
My Savior sinners doth receive.

2 Come, heavy laden, bending low,
Come as thou canst, to him returning;
If 'neath the weight thou'rt weak and slow,
Yet creep,--who found Him any spurning?
Fear not, His heart in love doth beat;
If thou art slow, He hastes to meet.
Long hath He called with warm entreaty;
His soul doth melt in deepest pity:
So come, poor worm, this may relieve,
My Savior sinners doth receive.

3 Say not: My sins are crimson dyed,
I've scorned His mercy's richest treasure,
His call I've mocked, His threats defied,
Now wrath is mine in fullest measure.
Go seek Him, if thy heart be bent,
And earnestly its sin repent,
His grace o'ersteps guilt's every mountain,
And opens free the cleansing fountain.
Hope on,--this word can all retrieve,
My Savior sinners doth receive.

4 Yet say not: I may still delay,
Taste of sin's joy, and be forgiven,
God will not yet this very day
Close the wide gate of grace and heaven.
His gift He offers; hasten thou
With both thy hands and seize it now;
He who drams on, by sin deluded,
Will find himself at last excluded:
Burst now the net thy foe doth weave,
Now Jesus sinners doth receive.

5 Friend of the sinner, in Thy grace,
Teach us to seek Thy succor speedy;
Reveal to anxious souls Thy face,
To us, to all the poor and needy.
When conscience feels sin's bitter smart,
Show us Thy pierced and open heart;
When anguish on our soul is preying,
Let us not stand, in doubt delaying;
Let each one say: Lord, I believe;
'Tis done--me Jesus doth receive.

Source: The Lutheran Hymnary #435