With Firm Resolve I Held My Peace

with firm resolve i held my peace
and spake not either bad or good,
lest i should utter sinful thoughts
while wicked men before me stood.

while i was dumb my grief was stirred,
my heart grew hot with thought suppressed;
the while i mused the fire increased,
then to the lord i made request.

make me, o lord, to know my end,
teach me the measure of my days,
that i may know how frail i am
and turn from pride and sinful ways.

my time is nothing in thy sight,
behold, my days are but a span;
yea, truly, at his best estate,
a breath, a fleeting breath, is man.

man’s life is passed in vain desire
if troubled years be spent for gain;
he knows not whose his wealth shall be,
and all his toil is but in vain.

and now, o lord, what wait i for?
i have no hope except in thee;
let not ungodly men reproach,
from all transgressions set me free.

because thou didst it i was dumb,
i spoke no word of rash complaint;
remove thy stroke away from me,
beneath thy chastisement i faint.

when thou for his iniquity
rebukest and correctest man,
his beauty is consumed away;
how weak his strength, how vain his plan.

lord, hear my prayer, regard my cry;
i weep; be thou my comforter.
i am a stranger here below,
a pilgrim as my fathers were.

o spare me, lord, avert thy wrath,
deal gently with me, i implore,
that i may yet recover strength
ere i go hence and be no more.