preserve me lord

preserve me, lord, in time of need;
for succor to thy throne i flee,
but have no merits there to plead:
my goodness cannot reach to thee.

oft have my heart and tongue confessed
how empty and how poor i am;
my praise can never make thee blessed,
nor add new glories to thy name.

yet, lord, thy saints on earth may reap
some profit by the good we do;
these are the company i keep,
these are the choicest friends i know.

let others choose the songs of mirth
to give a relish to their wine;
i love the men of heav’nly birth,
whose thoughts and language are divine.