O God, forgive the years and years
Of worldly pride and hopes and fears;
Forgive, and blot them from Thy book,
The sins on which I mourn to look.
Forgive the lack of service done
For Thee, thro' life, from life begun;
Forgive the vain desires to be
All else but that desired by Thee.
Forgive the love of human praise,
The first false step in crooked ways,
The choice of evil and the night,
The heart close shut against the light.
Forgive the love that could endure
No cost to bless the sad and poor;
Forgive, and give me grace to see
The Life laid down in love for me.