A Servant of God

Ah, would that I might be a servant of God, my Maker!

Though every friend were far from me, yet He would draw me near.

My Maker, my Shepherd,

Thou possessest my soul and my body;

Thou discernest mine aim,

Thou seest my thoughts,

My path and my couch;
And Thou siftest all my ways.

If Thou help me, who shall make me stumble?
If Thou restrain me, who else can set me free?

Mine inmost parts do yearn
To be in communion with Thee,

While yet my cares
Set them afar from Thee,

And my paths incline
From the path of Thy steps.

Lord, teach me! let me tread along Thy truth,

And gently lead me on in judgment and condemn me not.

If I am even in youth
Too weak to do Thy will,

How then in old age
Can I yet hope and watch?

O God, heal, I beseech Thee!
With Thee, O God, is the healing.

The day old age shall root me up, and my strength forget me,

Do Thou not leave me, my God; do not forsake me.

Crushed and weak,

I sit and tremble every moment;
Naked and despoiled,

I go on my vain Wanderings;

And I am polluted
Through my manifold sins and transgressions.

Between Thee and me—iniquity which divideth us,

Holding me back from seeing Thy light with mine eyes.

Incline Thou mine heart

To do the service of Thy kingdom,

And my thought

Make pure for knowledge of Thy God-ship;

And in my time of pain
O stay Thou not Thine healing.

Answer, O my God, keep not silence, afflicting me,

Redeem me now, I pray, and say unto Thy servant: I am here.