HAVE pity, Lord! -- we humbly cry, With trembling voice, and tearful eye; Thou know'st our ignorance and sin, And what by grace we might have been; All -- all is known, O Lord, to thee; Miserere Domine! Our public walks and private ways; The follies of our youthful days; Our manhood's errors, -- every stain Of lust and pride to thee are plain; For who, O Lord! can hide from thee? Miserere Domine! Too late we mourn our wasted hours, Neglected gifts, perverted powers; Affections warm, of heavenly birth, Lavished, alas! on toys of earth: How far estranged, O Lord, from thee! Miserere Domine! How oft, O Lord! things bright and fair To human sight, are but a snare; A gilded bait to lure the soul Within the subtle Fiend's control: But there is refuge, Lord, in thee! Miserere Domine! Oh, let us never feel in vain From thy dear hand the warning pain; The Father's stripes upon us laid In mercy, for thy children's aid: Teach us in all thy hand to see: Miserere Domine! "Our Father!" thou dost bid us pray; As children who are prone to stray In devious paths, whence we retreat With garments torn and bleeding feet; Our Father! let us fly to thee: Miserere Domine! OUR FATHER! ever-blessed name! To thee we bring our sin and shame; Weak though we be, perverse of will, Thou art our gracious Father still, Who knowest well how frail we be. Miserere Domine! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE REVENGE OF RAIN-IN-THE-FACE by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW MESSMATES by HENRY JOHN NEWBOLT THE TROOPS by SIEGFRIED SASSOON MY DEMAND by MARION L. BERTRAND WINTER IN IRELAND by CHARLES BEWLEY |