Before Thee is my Whole Desire

O Lord, before Thee is my whole desire—
Yea, though I cannot bring it to my lips.
Thy favour I would ask a moment and then die—
Ah, would that mine entreaty might be granted!
That I might render up the remnant of my spirit to Thine hand,
Then should I sleep, and sweet my sleep would be.
When far from Thee, I die while yet in life;
But if I cling to Thee I live, though I should die.
Only I know not how to come before Thee,
Nor what should be my service nor my law.
Show me, O Lord, Thy ways!
And turn me back from bondage of my folly;
And teach me, while there yet is power in me
To bear affliction; scorn not mine abasement
Ere yet the day I grow a burden on myself,
The day my limbs weigh heavy each on each;
When I am bowed despite me, and the moth
Eateth my bones aweary of sustaining me;
And I fare forth whither my fathers fared,
And where they rested find my camping place.
Stranger and sojourner am I on face of earth,
While in her womb is mine appointed home.
My youth, until to-day, hath done its pleasure:
But when shall I do good for mine own soul?
The world which Thou hast set within my heart
Hath held me back from seeking out mine end;
And how then shall I serve my Maker, while
A captive to my lust, a slave to my desire?
And how shall I aspire to lofty place?—
Tomorrow the worm will be my sister;
And how upon a day of gladness shall my heart be glad?—
I know not if it shall be well with my tomorrow;
For lo, the days and nights are pledged together
All to consume my flesh till I am gone,
To scatter to the wind the half of me,
And half of me restore unto the dust.
What can I say? Temptation doth pursue me
As doth an enemy, from youth to age;
And what hath fate for me if not Thy favour?
If Thou art not my lot, what is my lot?
I am despoiled and naked of good works,
Thy righteousness alone my covering—
But why make longer speech, why question more?
O Lord, before Thee is my whole desire.