A penitent pleading for pardon. <br /> <br />Show pity, Lord, O Lord, forgive, <br />Let a repenting rebel live: <br />Are not thy mercies large and free? <br />May not a sinner trust in thee? <br /> <br />My crimes are great, but not surpass <br />The power and glory of thy grace: <br />Great God, thy nature hath no bound, <br />So let thy pard'ning love be found. <br /> <br />O wash my soul from every sin, <br />And make my guilty conscience clean; <br />Here on my heart the burden lies, <br />And past offences pain my eyes. <br /> <br />My lips with shame my sins confess <br />Against thy law, against thy grace: <br />Lord, should thy judgment grow severe, <br />I am condemned, but thou art clear. <br /> <br />Should sudden vengeance seize my breath, <br />I must pronounce thee just in death; <br />And if my soul were sent to hell, <br />Thy righteous law approves it well. <br /> <br />Yet save a trembling sinner, Lord, <br />Whose hope, still hov'ring round thy word, <br />Would light on some sweet promise there, <br />Some sure support against despair.<br /><br />Isaac Watts<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/psalm-51-part-1/
