Preserve Me, Lord

Preserve me

Lord

in time of need;

For suc­cor to Thy throne I flee

But have no mer­its there to plead;

My good­ness can­not reach to Thee.

Oft have my heart and tongue con­fessed

How emp­ty and how poor I am;

My praise can nev­er make Thee blest

Nor add new glo­ries to Thy name.

Yet

Lord

Thy saints on earth may reap

Some pro­fit by the good we do;

These are the com­pa­ny I keep

These are the choic­est friends I know.

Let oth­ers choose the songs of mirth

To give a rel­ish to their wine;

I love the men of heav’n­ly birth

Whose thoughts and lang­uage are di­vine.