Before thy throne, O God, we kneel;
Give us a conscience quick to feel,
A ready mind to understand
the meaning of thy chast’ning hand;
Whate’er the pain and shame may be,
Bring us, O rather, nearer thee.

Search out our hearts and make us true,
Wishful to give to all their due;
From love of pleasure, lust of gold,
from sins Which make the heart grow cold,
wean us and train us with Thy rod,
Teach us to know our faults, O God.

Let the fierce fires, which burn and try,
Our inmost spirits purity:
Consume the ill, purge out the shame;
O God! Be with us in the flame;
A new-born people may we rise
More pure, more true, more nobly wise.

For sins of heedless word and deed,
For pride ambitious to succeed;
For crafty trade and subtle snare
To catch the simple unaware,
For lives bereft of purpose high
Forgive, forgive, O Lord, we cry.