O God, Thy Righteousness We Own (1)

O God

Thy right­eous­ness we own;

Judgment is at Thy house be­gun!

With hum­ble awe Thy rod we hear

And guil­ty in Thy sight ap­pear;

We can­not in Thy judg­ment stand

But sink be­neath Thy migh­ty hand.

Our mouth as in the dust we lay

And still for mer­cy

mer­cy pray;

Unworthy to be­hold Thy face

Unfaithful stew­ards of Thy grace

Our sin and wick­ed­ness we own

And deep­ly for ac­cept­ance groan.

We have not

Lord

Thy gifts im­proved

But base­ly from Thy sta­tutes roved

And done Thy lov­ing Spir­it spite

And sinned against the clear­est light

Brought back Thy ago­niz­ing pain

And nailed Thee to Thy cross again.

Yet do not drive us from Thy face

A stiff-necked and hard-heart­ed race;

But oh! in ten­der mer­cy break

The ir­on si­new in our neck;

The soft­en­ing pow­er of love im­part

And melt the mar­ble of our heart.