with broken heart

With broken heart and contrite sigh,

a trembling sinner, Lord, I cry;

Thy pardoning grace is rich and free:

O God, be merciful to me!




I smite upon my troubled breast,

with deep and conscious guilt oppressed;

Christ and His Cross my only plea:

O God, be merciful to me!




Far off I stand with tearful eyes,

nor dare uplift them to the skies;

but Thou dost all my anguish see:

O God, be merciful to me!




Nor alms, nor deeds that I have done,

can for a single sin atone:

to Calvary alone I flee;

O God, be merciful to me!




And when, redeemed from sin and hell,

with all the ransomed throng I dwell,

my raptured song shall ever be:

God has been merciful to me!

(Repeat last line of each verse)