Father, before thy footstool kneeling,
Once more my heart goes up to thee,
For aid, for strength, to thee appealing,
Thou who alone canst succor me.
Hear me! for heart and flesh are failing,
My spirit yielding in the strife;
And anguish wild as unavailing
Sweeps in a flood across my life.
Help me to stem the tide of sorrow;
Help me to bear thy chastening rod;
Give me endurance; let me borrow
Strength from thy promise, O my God!
Not mine the grief which words may lighten;
Not mine the tears of common woes;
The pang with which my heart-strings tighten
Only the All-seeing One may know.
And I am weak, my feeble spirit
Shrinks from life's task in wild dismay;
Yet not that thou that task wouldst spare it,
My Father, do I dare to pray.
Into my soul thy might infusing,
Strengthening my spirit by thine own;
Help me, all other aid refusing,
To cling to thee, and thee alone.
And O in my exceeding weakness
Make thy strength perfect; thou art strong:
Aid me to do thy will with meekness,
Thou to whom all my powers belong.
O let me feel that thou art near me;
Close to thy side, I shall not fear;
Hear me, O Strength of Israel, hear me,
Sustain and aid! in mercy hear.