Great King of nations, hear our prayer,
While at thy feet we fall,
And humbly, with united cry,
To thee for mercy call.
The guilt is ours, but grace is thine,
O turn us not away;
But hear us from thy lofty throne,
And help us when we pray.
Our fathers' sins were manifold,
And ours no less we own,
Yet wondrously from age to age
Thy goodness hath been shown.
When danger, like a stormy sea,
Beset our country round,
To thee we looked, to thee we cried,
And help in thee was found.
With one consent we meekly bow
Beneath thy chast'ning hand,
And, pouring forth confession meet,
Mourn with our mourning land.
With pitying eye behold our need,
As thus we lift our prayers;
Correct us with thy judgments, Lord,
Then let thy mercy spare.
~ John H. Gurney ~
