O Lord, have mercy upon us.
Psalm 123:3
Words: Unknown author, in the Greek Offices (Κύριε ἐλέησον, Ἀντιλαβοῦ, αῶσον, ἐλέησον). Translated from Greek to English by John Brownlie, Hymns of the Greek Church, 1900.
Music: Oldbridge Robert N. Quaile, 1903 (🔊 pdf nwc).
If you know where to get a good photo of Quaile (head & shoulders, at least 200×300 pixels),
God of all grace, Thy mercy send;
Let Thy protecting arm defend;
Save us and keep us to the end:
Have mercy, Lord.
And through the coming hours of night,
Fill us, we pray, with holy light;
Keep us all sinless in Thy sight:
Grant this, O Lord.
May some bright messenger abide
For ever by Thy servants’ side,
A faithful guardian and our guide:
Grant this, O Lord.
From every sin in mercy free,
Let heart and conscience stainless be;
That we may live henceforth for Thee:
Grant this, O Lord.
We would not be by care opprest;
But in Thy love and wisdom rest;
Give what Thou seest to be best:
Grant this, O Lord.
While we of every sin repent,
Let our remaining years be spent
In holiness and sweet content:
Grant this, O Lord.
And when the end of life is near,
May we, unshamed and void of fear,
Wait for the judgment to appear:
Grant this, O Lord.