Verse 1
A wretched slave of sin, to thee
Thou sinner’s friend, I ever cry,
Pity, and end my misery,
Forgive, renew, and let me die.

Verse 2
Ah! let it not my Lord displease
That I to thee my wishes breathe;
Hear, Jesus, hear, my soul release,
And let me find an early death.

Verse 3
I groan to be redeem’d from sin;
When shall the dear deliverance come!
Open thine arms, and take me in,
Receive thy pardon’d exile home.

Verse 4
Alas for me! constrain’d to dwell
Among the horrid sons of night!
Snatch from this neighbourhood of hell,
Translate me to the realms of light.

Verse 5
Eager I urge my sole request;
Wilt thou not, Lord, therewith comply?
Take me into thy people’s rest,
And bid me get me up, and die.

Verse 6
Impatient for my change I wait,
For death I sigh, for death I mourn;
Whom thou hast made, again create,
And let my spirit to God return.

Verse 7
This vale of tears and misery,
This earth, I know, is not my place:
O that I were dissolv’d in thee,
O that I might behold thy face!

Verse 8
My life to thee I fain would give,
And be where thou my Saviour art;
Better it is to die than live;
O speak, and bid my soul depart.

Verse 9
Receive my soul which gasps for death,
My soul redeem’d by thy own blood,
And let me now resign my breath,
And sink into the arms of God!