With bended knees and aching eyes

Author: George Herbert
Published in 1 hymnal

Representative Text

1 With bended Knees and aking Eyes
Weary and faint to thee my Cries,
To thee my Tears, my Groans I send;
O when shall my complainings end?

2 Wither'd my Heart like barren Ground
Accurst of God: My Head turns round,
My Throat is hoarse; I faint, I fall,
Yet failing still for Pity call.

3 Eternal Streams of Pity flow
From thee their source to Earth below;
Mothers are kind, because thou art,
Thy Tenderness o'erflows their Heart.

4 Lord of my Soul, bow down thine Ear!
Hear, Bowels of Compassion, hear!
O give not to the Winds my Prayer!
Thy Name, thy hallow'd name is there.

5 Look on my Sorrows! Mark them well,
The Same, the Pangs, the Flames, I feel!
Consider, Lord, thine Ear incline:
Thy son hat made my Sufferings thine.

6 Thou, Jesu, on th'accursed Tree
Didst bow thy dying Head for me:
Incline it now! Who made the Ear
Can h, can he forget to hear?

7 See thy poor dust in pity see
It stirs, it creeps, it aims at the!
Haste, save it from the greedy tomb
Come, every Atom bids thee come!

8 'Tis thine to help! forget me not!
O be thy Mercy ne'er forgot!
Lock'd is thy Ear?Yet still my Plea
My speed, for Mercy keeps the Key.

9 Thou tarriest while I sink, I die,
And fall to nothing! Thou on high
See'st me undone! yet I am stil'd
By thee (lost as I am) thy Child!

10 Yet thou art good; and yet abide
Thy Promises; they speak, they chide,
They in my Bosom pour my Tears,
And my Complaint present as theirs.

11 Hear Jesu! Hear my broken Heart!
Broken so long, that every part
Hath got a Tongue which ne'er shall cease,
Till thou pronounce, depart in Peace.

12 My Lord, my Saviour, hear my Cry,
By these thy Feet at which I lie;
Pluck out thy Dart: Regard my Sighs:
Now heal my Heart, or not it dies.

Source: A Collection of Psalms and Hymns #BXVI

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Author: George Herbert

Herbert, George, M.A., the fifth son of Richard Herbert and Magdalen, the daughter of Sir Richard Newport, was born at his father's seat, Montgomery Castle, April 3, 1593. He was educated at Westminster School, and at Trinity College, Cambridge, graduating B.A. in 1611. On March 15, 1615, he became Major Fellow of the College, M.A. the same year, and in 1619 Orator for the University. Favoured by James I., intimate with Lord Bacon, Bishop Andrewes, and other men of influence, and encouraged in other ways, his hopes of Court preferment were somewhat bright until they were dispelled by the deaths of the Duke of Richmond, the Marquis of Hamilton, and then of King James himself. Retiring into Kent, he formed the resolution of taking Holy Orders… Go to person page >

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