Before Thy Throne, O God, We Kneel

Before Thy throne

O God

we kneel;

Give us a con­sci­ence quick to feel

A rea­dy mind to un­der­stand

The mean­ing of Thy chast­en­ing hand;

Whate’er the pain and shame may be

Bring us

O Fa­ther

near­er Thee.

Search out our hearts and make us true

Wishful to give to all their due;

From love of plea­sure

lust of gold

From sins which make the heart grow cold

Wean us and train us with Thy rod;

Teach us to know our faults

O God.

For sins of heed­less word and deed

For pride am­bi­tious to suc­ceed;

For craf­ty trade and sub­tle snare

To catch the sim­ple una­ware;

For lives be­reft of pur­pose high

Forgive

for­give

O Lord

we cry.

Let fierc­est fires

which burn and try

Our in­most spir­its pu­ri­fy:

Consume the ill; purge out the shame;

O God! be with us in the flame;

A new­born peo­ple may we rise

More pure

more true

more nob­ly wise.