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(Hymn for the Day of Atonement)
O WOULD that I might be | |
| A servant unto Thee, | |
| Thou God of all adored! | |
| Then, though by friends outcast, | |
| Thy hand would hold me fast, | 5 |
| And draw me near to Thee, my King and Lord. | |
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| Spirit and flesh are Thine, | |
| O Heavenly Shepherd mine; | |
| My hopes, my thoughts, my fears, Thou seest all, | |
| Thou measurest my path, my steps dost know | 10 |
| When Thou upholdest, who can make me fall? | |
| When Thou restrainest, who can bid me go? | |
| O would that I might be | |
| A servant unto Thee, | |
| Thou God by all adored. | 15 |
| Then, though by friends outcast, | |
| Thy hand would hold me fast, | |
| And draw me near to Thee, my King and Lord. | |
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| Fain would my heart come nigh | |
| To Thee, O God on high, | 20 |
| But evil thoughts have led me far astray | |
| From the pure path of righteous government. | |
| Guide Thou me back into Thy holy way, | |
| And count me as one impenitent. | |
| O would that I might be | 25 |
| A servant unto Thee, | |
| Thou God, by all adored! | |
| Then, though by friends outcast, | |
| Thy hand would hold me fast, | |
| And draw me near to Thee, my King and Lord. | 30 |
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| If in my youth I still | |
| Fail to perform Thy will, | |
| What can I hope when age shall chill my breast? | |
| Heal me, O Lord; with Thee is healing found. | |
| Cast me not off, by weight of years oppress’d, | 35 |
| Forsake me not when age my strength has bound. | |
| O would that I might be | |
| A servant unto Thee, | |
| Thou God, by all adored! | |
| Then, though by friends outcast, | 40 |
| Thy hand would hold me fast, | |
| And draw me near to Thee, my King and Lord. | |
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| Contrite and full of dread, | |
| I mourn each moment fled, | |
| ’Mid idle follies roaming desolate, | 45 |
| I sink beneath transgressions manifold | |
| That from Thy presence keep me separate, | |
| Nor can sin-darkened eyes Thy light behold. | |
| O would that I might be | |
| A servant unto Thee, | 50 |
| Thou God by all adored! | |
| Then, though by friends outcast, | |
| Thy hand would hold me fast, | |
| And draw me near to Thee, my King and Lord. | |
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| So lead me that I may | 55 |
| Thy sovereign will obey; | |
| Make pure my heart to seek Thy truth divine, | |
| When burns my wound, be Thou with healing near! | |
| Answer me, Lord! for sore distress is mine, | |
| And say unto Thy servant, I am here. | 60 |
| O would that I might be | |
| A servant unto Thee, | |
| Thou God, by all adored! | |
| Then, though by friends outcast, | |
| Thy hand would hold me fast, | 65 |
| And draw me near to Thee, my King and Lord. | |
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