I Bow My Forehead to the Dust

Verse 1

I bow my forehead to the dust,
I veil mine eyes for shame,
And urge, in trembling self-distrust,
A prayer without a claim.

Verse 2

No offering of mine own I have,
Nor works my faith to prove;
I can but give the gifts He gave,
And plead His love for love.

Verse 3

I dimly guess, from blessings known,
Of greater out of sight;
And, with the chastened Psalmist, own
His judgments too are right.

Verse 4

And if my heart and flesh are weak
To bear an untried pain,
The bruisèd reed He will not break,
But strengthen and sustain.

Verse 5

I know not what the future hath
Of marvel or surprise,
Assured alone that life and death
His mercy underlies.

Verse 6

And so beside the silent sea
I wait the muffled oar:
No harm from Him can come to me
On ocean or on shore.

Verse 7

I know not where His islands lift
Their fronded palms in air;
I only know I cannot drift
Beyond His love and care.

Verse 8

And Thou, O Lord, by whom are seen
Thy creatures as they be,
Forgive me if too close I lean
My human heart on Thee.