o lord turn not thy face from me

o lord, turn not thy face from me,
who lie in woeful state,
lamenting all my sinful life
before thy mercy-gate.

a gate which opens wide to those
that do lament their sin;
shut not that gate against me, lord,
but let me enter in.

and call me not to strict account
how i have sojourned here;
for then my guilty conscience knows
how vile i shall appear.

so come i to thy mercy gate,
where mercy doth abound,
requiring mercy for my sin
to heal my deadly wound.

mercy, good lord, mercy i ask;
this is my humble prayer;
for mercy, lord is all my suit,
o let thy mercy spare.