my sins have taken such a hold on me

my sins have taken such a hold on me,
i am not able to look up to thee;
lord, i repent; accept my tears and grief:
but thou hast taken all my sins away,
and i in thee dare now look up and pray:
lord, i believe; help thou mine unbelief.

of nights unhallowed, and of sinful days,
of careless thoughts and words and works and way,
lord, i repent; accept my tears and grief:
and in the life which doth within me live,
and the forgiveness which can all forgive,
lord, i believe; help thou mine unbelief.

of selfishness which makes the soul unjust,
envy and strife and every sinful lust,
lord, i repent; accept my tears and grief:
and in the blood, which doth my pardon plead,
the truth and love, which for me intercede,
lord, i believe; help thou mine unbelief.

of sins that as a cloud have hid thy face,
of thy care slighted, and thy grievèd grace,
lord, i repent; accept my tears and grief:
in love, that puts sin’s envious veil aside,
rending the veil of flesh which for me died,
lord, i believe, help thou mine unbelief.

for sin i mourn, the sin that gave thee pain;
thine was the burden, mine alone the stain;
lord, i repent; accept my tears and grief:
christ is my joy; and out of all distress
he doth deliver with his righteousness:
lord, i believe, help thou mine unbelief.