A broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.
Psalm 51:17
Words: Bernard of Clairvaux, 12th Century (Jesu dulcis memoria). Translated from Latin to English by Edward Caswall, 1849. Though found in some hymnals as a separate hymn, these words are also part of Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee.
Music: St. Agnes John B. Dykes, in Hymnal for Use in the English Church, by John Grey, 1866 (🔊 pdf nwc).
O hope of every contrite heart,
O joy of all the meek,
To those who fall, how kind Thou art!
How good to those who seek!
But what to those who find?
Ah this—nor tongue nor pen can show;
The love of Jesus, what it is
None but His loved ones show.
Jesus, our only joy be Thou,
As Thou our prize will be;
Jesus, be Thou our glory now,
And through eternity.