Before Thy throne I now appear

1 Before Thy throne I now appear,
O Lord, bow down Thy gracious ear
To me, and cast not from Thy face
Thy sinful child that sues for grace.

2 Thou Father of eternity,
Thine image hast impressed on me;
In Thee I am, and live, and move,
Nor can exist without Thy love.

3 Oft hast Thou snatched me from distress,
And raised me oft when comfortless,
When but a step, nay, one hair's breadth,
Was 'twixt my tottering life and death.

4 My sense and reason come from Thee,
And sustenance Thou givest me;
A faithful friend Thou dost bestow,
To prove his love in weal and woe.

5 Thou hast redeemed me, Son of God,
Hast shed for me Thy precious blood,
The Law for my sake hast fulfilled,
And thus Thy Father's wrath hast stilled.

6 When sin and Satan witness bear
Against me, that I must despair,
As Mediator Thou stepst in,
And sav'st me from the curse of sin.

7 Thou art my Advocate for aye,
My Savior, Comfort, and my Stay!
Thine all-sufficient merit is
On earth, my peace; in heaven, my bliss.

8 God, Holy Spirit, Power divine!
Thou workest in this heart of mine;
Naught can be counted good in me,
But what proceeds alone from Thee.

9 Through Thee, I now my God adore,
And call Him Father evermore;
Through Thee, His Word and Sacrament
I love and hold, tell life is spent.

10 Through Thee, I'm in temptation free
From fear and sad despondency;
Through Thee, I'm quickened oft to taste
The sweets of Thine eternal rest.

11 I, therefore, now give thanks to Thee
With heart and tongue most joyfully
For all Thy mercies, Lord, my God,
Which on my soul Thou hast bestowed.

12 Beseeching Thine almighty grace
To aid me, till I've run my race;
Soul, body, honor, house, and friend,
To Thy protection I commend.

13 Give me a heart that is sincere,
To love Thy truth, and persevere
In real Christian piety,
And shun all foul hypocrisy.

14 My sins and trespasses forgive;
Have patience with me, while I live;
O give me faith and charity,
And let my hope rest but in Thee.