The Wages of Sin

Oh what are the wages of sin,
The end of the race we have run?
We have slaved for the master we chose,
And what is the prize we have won?

We gave away all things for him,
And in truth it was much that was given, -
The love of the angels and saints,
And the chance of our getting to Heaven-

We are worn out and weary with sin;
Its pleasures are poor at the best;
For what we remember, not worth
Half an hour of a conscience at rest.

For sin in the hand is not like
The bright thing it looked to the eye;
Its taste is still worse than its touch;
Yet we swallow the poison and die.

Oh fools that we were! can we now
Break off the bad bargain we made?
And is there a way to get back
The rash price we already have paid?

Oh yes! we have got but to send
One word or one sigh up to Heaven?
The mischief will all be undone,
And the past be completely forgiven.

Jesus is just what He was.
On the Cross, as we left Him before,
All gentleness, mercy, and love,
Nay, His love and His mercy look more.

We will back with our hearts in our hands,
For the heart is His one only fee:
Forgive us, dear Jesus, forgive,
All we want is forgiveness from Thee.