Scripture Verse

The publican…smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me, a sinner. Luke 18:13

Introduction

portrait
Thomas Raffles (1788–1863)

Words: Tho­mas Raf­fles, writ­ten Oc­to­ber 4, 1831, at Sea­combe, Eng­land.

Music: Av­on­dale (Ga­bri­el) Charles H. Ga­bri­el, 1901 (🔊 pdf nwc).

portrait
The Pharisee and the Publican
James Tissot
1836–1902

Lyrics

Lord, like the pub­li­can I stand,
And lift my heart to Thee;
Thy par­don­ing grace, O God, com­mand,
Be mer­ci­ful to me.

I smite up­on my anx­ious breast,
O’er­whelmed with ago­ny;
O save my soul by sin op­pressed,
Be mer­ci­ful to me.

My guilt, my shame, I all con­fess,
I have no hope nor plea
But Je­sus’ blood and right­eous­ness;
Be mer­ci­ful to me.

Here at Thy cross I still would wait,
Nor from its shel­ter flee,
But Thou, O God, in mer­cy great,
Art mer­ci­ful to me.