Hymn: I bow my forehead to the dust
- Title:
- First Line: I bow my forehead to the dust
- Hymnal: The Hymnal: published by the Authority of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A.
- Denomination: Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.); Northern Presbyterian
- Publisher: Presbyterian Board of Publication and Sabbath School Work
- Publication Date: 1895
Author(s)
- Author Name: John Greenleaf Whittier
- Born: 1807
- Died: 1892
- Gender: M
Full Text
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. 2 No offering of my own I have, Nor works my faith to prove; I can but give the gifts He gave, And plead His love for love. 3 I dimly guess, from blessings known, Of greater out of sight; And, with the chastened Psalmist, own His judgments too are right. 4 And if my heart and flesh are weak To bear an untried pain, The bruis'd reed He will not break, But strengthen and sustain. 5 I know not what the future hath Of marvel or surprise, Assured alone that life and death His mercy underlies. 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. 7 I know not where His islands lift Their fronded palms in air; I only know I cannot drift Beyond His love and care. 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. Amen.