With broken heart and contrite sigh,
A trembling sinner, Lord, I cry;
Your pardoning grace is rich and free:
O God, be merciful to me.
I beat upon my troubled breast,
With deep and conscious guilt oppressed,
Christ and His cross my only plea:
O God, be merciful to me.
Far off I stand with tearful eyes,
Nor dare uplift them to the skies;
But You do all my anguish see:
O God, be merciful to me.
Nor alms nor deeds that I have done,
Can for a single sin atone?
To Calvary alone I flee:
O God, be merciful to me.
And when, redeemed from sin and hell,
With all the ransomed throng to dwell,
My raptured song shall ever be,
God has been merciful to me.
Cornelius Elven, 1852
