O Turn, Great Ruler of the Skies

O turn

great Rul­er of the skies

Turn from my sin Thy search­ing eyes

Nor let th’of­fens­es of my hand

Within Thy book

re­cord­ed stand.

Prompt is Thy pow­er

when ills in­vade

The weak and con­trite soul to aid:

Then let Thy cle­men­cy di­vine

Conspicuous in my par­don shine.

O let the full­ness of Thy grace

Each er­ror of my life ef­face!

But Thy de­crees

al­migh­ty Sire!

Integrity of heart re­quire.

Give me a will to Thine sub­dued

A con­science pure

a soul re­newed;

Nor let me

wrapped in end­less gloom

An out­cast from Thy pre­sence roam.

Oh

let Thy Spir­it to my heart

Once more His quick­en­ing aid im­part;

My mind from ev­ery fear re­lease

And soothe my trou­bled thoughts to peace.

So shall the souls whom er­ror’s sway

Has urged from Thee

blest Lord

to stray

From me Thy heav­en­ly pre­cepts learn

And hum­bled to their God re­turn.

The heart that

taught its guilt to know

Repentant heaves with in­ward woe

Shall finds its pray­ers

its groans

its sighs

To Thee in full ac­cept­ance rise.