1. With broken heart and contrite sigh,
A trembling sinner, Lord, I cry.
Thy pardoning grace is rich and free,--
O God, be merciful to me!
2. I smite upon my troubled breast,
With deep and conscious guilt opprest:
Christ and His cross my only plea,--
O God, be merciful to me!
3. Far off I stand with tearful eyes
Nor dare uplift them to the skies;
But Thou dost all my anguish see,--
O God, be merciful to me!
4. Nor alms nor deeds that I have done
Can for a single sin atone.
To Calvary alone I flee,--
O God, be merciful to me!
5. And when, redeemed from sin and hell,
With all the ransomed throng I dwell,
My raptured song shall ever be,
O God, be merciful to me!
Hymn #323 from _The Handbook to the Lutheran Hymnal_
Text: Luke 18:13
Author: Cornelius Elven, 1852
Composer: Jeremiah Clarke, 1707
Tune: "St. Luke"